Another Day in the HR Field

What hasn't been said about the Coronavirus over the past several weeks in the HR community? I can't think of a thing? Over the past two weeks at least, I've been doing nothing but talking, listening, watching, researching and responding to questions from clients, students, family, and friends about this topic much like the rest of the world. The following is a list of what I think is the most important things I have learned and suggest employers consider if they have not already done so. I call it the three C’s of Coronavirus for HR and Employers. 1.       Compliance with new local , state , and federal employment regulations covering employees.   This covers quarantine rules, time off, protected time off, unemployment, and even paid time off in some cases depending on the size of the organization. 2.       Cleanliness with the CDC and WHO .   Sure most organizations have cleaning companies that might come into the w...

I just completed a training program today for county officials that applies to all business owners, managers, and HR in the state here in Springfield today (on February 26, 2020) covering the Workplace Transparency Act and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, I'd like to summarize some of the main points.  As the program description described, the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act imposes a variety of restrictions and requirements on employers relating to workplace discrimination and harassment including annual sexual harassment prevention training for all employees (in all employers of all sizes throughout the state).  The training covered the standards to get into and stay in compliance. The most recent 2/5/20 Public Service Announcement by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) was introduced covering the need to provide training to all employees no later than 12/31/20 and annually thereafter with all new employees being trained within 90 days of that firs...

Merry Christmas! Thanks to a client who informed me of a new requirement she was made aware of at an Employment Law update training event last month, I recently research said notification and unbeknownst to me, it was true.  I was shocked because in my humble opinion it conflicts with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act .  However, we do things a bit different here in the Land of Lincoln.  So keep reading this "Just in Time" notification that will give owners, executives, HR professionals, managers, and supervisors a holiday treat to add to your daily to do list at work! Surprise, surprise, surprise there’s another new law to follow! Unfortunately, one that has been in affect for some time now but has not received much notice and was slid in right under our HR noses! Not once but TWICE! The Illinois Department of Labor established new regulations, “ Payment and Collection of Wages or Final Compensation – Records and Notice of Requirements” in August of 2014 t...

The following are a couple employment related changes all business owners and human resources professionals in Illinois should be aware of. DOCUMENTATION RECOMMENDED Employees of any Illinois employer now have a much longer time frame to bring a complaint or case against their employer.  This is due to a change to the Illinois Human Rights Act the Governor signed on August 24, 2018.  Specifically it was Senate Bill 20 Public Act 100-1066.  So basically, if an employee feels they have been unfairly treated by their employer or any representative o their employer, such as their supervisor, they now have 300 days to bring that complaint to the EEOC or an attorney.  This just reinforces age old HR related advice to: DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.  It's hard to remember what we had for lunch yesterday, let alone the who, what, when, where, how , and why of an employee situation that happened well over a year ago by the time you are notified that an employee...

I am often contacted about what I speak on and since I rewrite a new paragraph or two every time, I thought I would document it here for those who have interest. I cover any topic related to management and especially as it relates to employees via human resources management.  You can see some topics listed  on my website at www.rogershr.com or blogsite https://donnarogershr.blogspot.com/ .  The most recent topics include: Reasonable Suspicion Empathy in the Workplace Conducting a Workplace Investigation The Bermuda Triangle of HR: FMLA, WC, & ADA Harassment & Discrimination HR Issues or What’s Hot in HR Now Getting What You Want in the Workplace Managing Workplace Conflict I am working on preparing one on Bereavement Leave that I will deliver in February at the 2nd annual OHSHRM HR Cruise.  I have spoken recently for Women Entrepreneurs,  General Federation for Women’s Club and Women in Communications linked above.  I tailor...

A Letter to Family, Friends,Clients, & Business Associates: The summer HR intern and I have been conducting a full client file review for all organizations Rogers HR Consulting (RHRC) has worked with and/or provided proposals for since I began the business in 2001. While this was a big project and well overdue it was essential to learn from each client where we stand as a vendor and see how we can support the organizations goals in the future. What we discovered in this process was just how lucky RHRC has been to support such a vast variety of organizations over these past 13 years. Most of our success is because of the word of mouth from people like you. We don't have a budget to advertise and frankly don't have time due to my teaching responsibilities throughout the year in addition to client work. Thus your referrals are and will continue to be greatly appreciated! The following is a summary of the services we have provided to over 100 organizations in order from m...

This is a post I started in April and just getting a chance to publish. My apologies for the delay.  It's been a few years since Tami Ireland and I started the state legislative conference with then ILSHRM Director, Carolyn Spherl.  With continued support we have had our ups and downs but yesterday put a smile on both of our faces for a couple reasons. Those reasons center around two things: 1) Growth & 2) Opportunity.  Both of us have visited Capitol Hill in DC during the SHRM sponsored Lobby Day and have mirrored our approach as closely as possible. However, some years  have not even come close to this year especially as it relates to opportunity.  If you compare the picture of our first year to this years, you can see the growth in number of participants. It's obvious to us that even though growth has been slow it is still growth. Can't wait to see what the 2015 ILSHRM / CICSHRM legislative event will bring next Spring.  The opportunity I was referri...

While I did not see any turkey’s on this Pilgrimage it was one that I will remember for a lifetime.   If you were from any other state than Illinois at the annual SHRM Leadership Conference in National Harbor, MD last week you would have seen the sea of red shirts and thought it was a “wow-look at the masses that made the trip (Pilgrimage) from half way across the country too.   Again this year (3 rd in a row) all attendees from the ILSHRM board and chapter board members were offered a red shirt to wear for two reason: 1) Take a group photo and 2) show our team/state spirit.   The latter was the more important of the two because no one felt alone.   They had others to turn to and felt included which is extremely important to me as a leader in this state.   In the “ Strengths Finder ” assessment one of my top five is “INCLUDER” and if this is the only legacy I leave for my time in a leadership role, I am ecstatic, because when I was a chapter leader, I ha...

It's late, I am still not done with my work responsibilities that must be done before I leave town for three days, and I am totally not even close to being packed. However, I could not resist a quick break to write a post about what I will be doing over the next few days! Within the next 10 hours I will be driving 55 North heading to the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois to attend the best ever Illinois State Council (now branded as ILSHRM) conference & exposition. On the downside as I look toward tomorrow morning, I have a lot of stuff to transport so my car will be loaded down. The most exciting is three first ever very professional banners that show the state of IL and all 20 locations of our chapters. The second most impressive is a whole slew of items I have been collecting all year to put in the ILSHRM basket for the SHRM Foundation basket raffle fundraiser. I started this fundraiser three years ago and I must admit this is the most loaded basket we as a stat...

I will be speaking at this event! I hope you can attend, volunteer, judge, or speak along with me. Read on: AN EXCITING EVENT IS COMING TO ILLINOIS – SHRM REGIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE SHRM is excited to bring the 2011 SHRM North Central Regional Student Conference and Case Competition to Illinois. The North Central Region consists of the states of IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD and WI. As SHRM’s Field Services Director based in Illinois, I’m thrilled that this year’s event will be held at Lewis University in Romeoville on April 8 & 9, 2011. In recent years, the conference has been held in Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska and was last held in Illinois in 2007 at NIU, DeKalb. The regional student conferences (there are 5 nationwide) are a great way to provide our student members with educational sessions, opportunities to exchange new ideas and participate in the new Regional Case Competition. The Case Competition is a high-energy, interactive program enabling participating st...

Today, being the fifth day on the job as the new State Director for Illinois State Council of SHRM, I thought I would share a few words. No, really our social media director, @DaveTheHRCzar, gave me a little nudge. I have plenty of time to write for our blog site among the overwhelming list of “to do’s on my desk from paid jobs not to mention our upcoming state Leadership Conference this Monday. So, I will be brief! First, I would like to share a little about my SHRM volunteer responsibilities over the years leading up to my current position on the state council. I joined our local chapter, CIC-SHRM, in the mid-90s and that’s about as clear as my memory gets. What I do know is that in 1997 I became active on the chapter board and joined SHRM in 1998 as a strongly encouraged requirement for being a board member. Before that I did not know anything about the national organization. In 2001, while still being involved in my chapter for another four years I joined the Illinois State Council...