Dear GMA SHRM Members,

As summer fades, we welcome fall—a season of transformation and new beginnings.

While many of you are celebrating your hard-earned successes this year, fall is also a time for setting new goals and making a strong finish. The changing season reminds us that with change comes fresh perspectives and new opportunities. Let’s embrace this season together, support each other through transitions, and celebrate our achievements.

Join us at the October 22nd Member Welcome and Networking event!  This program combines two of our most popular events at a great venue.  We will kick off the event with GMA SHRM 101;  a great opportunity to learn about specific GMA SHRM programs and how your involvement with GMA SHRM can support you & your success!  That will be followed by a Member Networking Event!  Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned veteran, come and socialize and play games with other GMA SHRM members!

For more fall connections, check out our HR Roundtables, GMA SHRM networking events, and more. Details and registration can be found on our events page.

Speaking of fabulous fall events, who’s excited for the WI SHRM's 2024 State Conference? If you haven’t registered yet, do so today and remember, there are still opportunities to volunteer!

Our Member Referral Contest is back!  Invite all your friends, colleagues, vendors and others to join our fabulous community.  They’ll save $25 on their membership, and you’ll earn a chance to win a $200 Amazon gift card!! Share code Save25 and have them join by November 1st.

Thank you for your incredible energy, efforts and all that you do each day to enrich the lives of your teams and our community!

Warm regards,


Laura Bermudo, President
Greater Madison Area SHRM Chapter
lbermudo@myhaus.com / 608.383.4568

Legal Update – Termination Upheld for Refusal to Complete DE&I Training Requirements

Submitted from Storm Larson, Aiyanna Simms, & Mai Chao Chang, Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP, a Platinum Partner
 

Storm Larson

Mai Chao Chang

Aiyanah Simms

The Seventh Circuit recently ruled against a former employee on his retaliation claim against his employer, who fired him for failing to complete mandatory DE&I training. In Vavra v. Honeywell Int'l, Inc., 106 F.4th 702, (7th Cir. 2024), Honeywell’s DE&I office rolled out an Unconscious Bias Awareness initiative, which included mandatory, online unconscious bias training to all its employees. The plaintiff employee, Charles Vavra, never clicked on the link to access the training and never completed the training despite direct instructions from his superiors. Vavra sent an email detailing his objections to the training. The HR office responded to Vavra’s objections and shared his concerns with others in HR. Upon a final request for him to complete the training, he refused and was subsequently terminated. Vavra sued Honeywell for retaliation by Title VII, arguing that his opposition to the unconscious bias training requirement was protected activity.

Under federal law, an employee’s opposition to an employer’s required action is protected from retaliation when the employee has an objectively reasonable belief that the action he is opposing violated the law. Here, Vavra’s belief that the training requirement violated the law was baseless because he’d never looked at the training and didn't know what the training consisted of.

The Seventh Circuit agreed with the lower court’s decision, finding that because Vavra never clicked on the link, he did not know what he was opposing and therefore, his belief is not objectively reasonable. Vavra previously assumed that the training would “vilify white people and treat people differently based on their race.” However, that assumption was purely speculative.

Employees cannot simply refuse to comply with DE&I training requirements because they disagree with the requirement, and then claim retaliation after termination. However, employers should still carefully evaluate the circumstances before terminating an employee who refuses to complete mandatory training.  Among other things, being consistent with all employees regarding the obligation to complete the training is key.

 

 

HR Student Night Out!

Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Wisconsin School of Business - Room 2190

Students!  Network with local HR Professionals, ask career questions to an expert panel representing a variety of HR areas, and learn more about GMA SHRM Student Scholarship.

Members!  Attend this event to meet and share with the next class of HR Professionals!

More Information

Diversity Observances in September and October

Submitted by Mary Vesely, GMA SHRM Director of Diversity 

Article of the Month:  In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, check out this page to get some ideas on how to incorporate this into the workplace for team engagement: https://teambuilding.com/blog/hispanic-heritage-month.

September and October Observances

 

Use these observances for team engagement! Have fun, celebrate diversity, and take this opportunity to share stories and learn more about your teammates.  

**NEW – Check out our 2024 Diversity Calendar on our DEI Resources page.

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