Another Day in the HR Field

I am so very honored to be among some of the very best names in Springfield's history.  It is such an honor to be nominated for next years award.  Thank you in advance to those who nominated me! This award is sponsored by the Illinois Women in Leadership (IWIL). The definition of the award from their site is as follows:  The ATHENA Leadership Award® was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment -- qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model®. The Award is unique in both scope (local, national and international) and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based. The ATHENA Leadership Award® is presented to a woman or man who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 7,000 exemplary leaders in over 500 communities have received the prestig...

Several new laws have taken effect in the last year that affect Public Employers primarily.  Please review this legislative update carefully and contact me for any further information you may need to ensure compliance. P.A. 100-0947 (January 1, 2019) – This Act amends the Counties Code to require that on or before June 1, 2019, every facility that houses a circuit court room shall include at least one lactation room or area for members of the public to express breast milk in private that is located outside the confines of a restroom and includes, at minimum, a chair, table, electrical outlet, and a sink with running water where possible.  This room may be the same space provided to employees. The legislation further requires the Supreme Court to create minimum standards for posting and training of courthouse staff. Construction or renovation of a court facility after June 1, 2019 shall include at least one lactation room or area that is located outside the confines of a res...

My blogging has been pretty sporadic lately! I just finished an overload semester and had a boat load of client work to handle as well. So unpaid work gets pushed aside. I hope to get more regular on this site as time moves forward. Here's a summary of some of the main points related to a program I delivered last week to over 70 management personnel. Recently, I facilitated a training event in Springfield covering the topic above. The exact wording used in the title can often be found at the end of a personnel or employment related policy reminding employees to follow the rules (i.e. policy) or else! The problem is that many times management doesn't enforce those policies because conflict for anyone is not easy and often avoided at all costs. However, the long-term costs to a company for not enforcing can lead to poor performance, attitude, increased turnover, decreased morale of other employees, unfair or inequity complaints to outside agencies or an attorney. So botto...

Yes, social learning platforms are in my classrooms (face-to-face, blended, and online) and have been part of my teaching methodology since 2011 or so.  I personally got online around 2008 not too long after social media started getting popular among the business community.  My first blog was actually on my original website (although clunky) because I remember writing a blog post about my very first Facebook post featuring my kids.  Of course, it took me a couple years to master all the start ups and I think twitter became a favorite in 2009 or 2010.  I remember, many of my SHRM friends showed me how to use twitter at conferences.  Twitter which is where I have my strongest following currently with just under 20k unique followers (no purchased lists - wouldn't even think of doing that).  In those early days, it seems like the Human Resource community was among the first to adopt the technology even though many of their employers were still strongly forbiddi...

So the last months have been upheaval in our profession due to the SHRM/HRCI separation. The only other times I remember the HR community being this "moved" is when the SHRM Members for Transparency concerns where made public and the "I Hate HR" article was published. I know the later dates me a but but I have been passionate and incredibly supportive of the "Profession" society I have been a very active advocate for most of my business career.   As expected, over the last few days at #SHRM14, I have heard comments both positive and negative about both SHRM and HRCI. However, I consider myself to be a reasonable person and I don't take everyone's comments to heart. Nor do I believe everything I hear.  But (and not my first BUT) what I can't get over is the absence and uneasy feeling that has been so obviously present during this conference.  That absence is everything HRCI- PHR/SPHR/GPHR and so on.  HRCI,  who by the way, has been an organizati...

Have you ever thought of your place of WORSHIP as a workplace?  Well it is!  I just did some sexual harassment (they called it sexual ethics) training at a religious establishment earlier this year and heard stories about how pastors where taking advantage of their female EMPLOYEE's.  It was not overt and not the Quid Pro Quo type but it would defiantly fall into "HOSTILE WORKPLACE".  One of my students recently wrote a paper touching on all the things an institution of this nature would need to know about HR.  I felt his application was so on target that I sought his permission to post on this site.   What Should Non-Human Resource Professionals Know about Doing Human Resources in Religious Institutions by Benjamin Keller University of Illinois, Springfield Management 431, Section B Professor Donna Rogers March 3, 2013 Revised: April 10, 2013 What Should a Non-Human Resource Professional Know about Human Resources i...

Rebecca, Donna, Paula, Deb, Kristine As we approach the 5th annual SHRM Regional Leadership Summit to commence this week at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix, AZ , I am reminded of the most common question I heard muttered about during the last SHRM Leadership conference in November.  I think the reason I heard it more so this year than any other was because I was attending MAC (membership advisory committee) meetings as was my four peers whom are pictured to the left.  So when we explained where we were heading, we heard the same question: "What is the MAC?" The question does not surprise me at all because when I was a chapter leader, I had no idea what the state council was let alone the MAC.  Of course, back in those days it was called the Area Council or something like that.  Anyway, it's been a few months since I promised to write a blog post answering that very question so here it is.  Honestly, SHRM does a good job of explai...

After attending the SHRM Leadership Conference since 2000 as a volunteer either at the chapter or state level this year promises to be one of the best of 10. I can't say 11 because I did skip the 2001 conference due to what happened on 9/11/01. This year, like last, will have one of the largest contingencies attending from Illinois ever. We will have almost 100% from our Chapter Presidents/President-Elects and several new CORE Board Members will be in attendance this year for the first time in their state roles. I look forward to building relationships with all of our fabulous volunteers and meeting others throughout the country to learn from and share with ideas that can help each other. I also look forward to the red carpet type of feeling we get from the great #SHRM staff. Thanks to ILSHRM board of directors and all of our chapter presidents and their boards of directors. You are the face of #SHRM in #Illinois! On Tuesday, I will be on the Drive Thru HR blog talk radio ...