State HR Conference Wrap-Up
Strategically Connecting Talent Acquisition and Talent Management
FlashPoint president Krista Skidmore presented a session on strategic HR at the 15th Annual Indiana Human Resources Conference on September 2. The following article summarizes some of the key points she made.
Human resources play a vital role in the life of an organization. Most companies invest significantly in employees, and success depends in great part on how well company leaders incorporate HR into their long-term plans. It's not enough to merely manage day-to-day HR operations well; organizations must look at HR more broadly and link it to their overall strategy. This includes recruiting for targeted employee behaviors, measuring performance based on those behaviors, and rewarding employees who demonstrate the behaviors and help the company achieve its goals.
If you're responsible for the human resources function at your organization, here are some steps/actions you must take to begin connecting talent acquisition and management to your company's strategy:
Read the rest of the article to view the steps. To learn more about how FlashPoint can help you connect recruitment, performance management, and compensation to your organization's strategic plan, contact us
or visit our website. |
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Laws and Rulings Affecting HR
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Court Upholds Regulations Mandating E-Verify for Many Federal Contractors
In August the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued its much anticipated decision in Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America v. Janet Napolitano
, upholding the legality of Executive Order 13464 and its implementing regulation, which requires many federal contractors and subcontractors to use E-Verify. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, E-Verify is the federal government's internet-based system by which employers may check the eligibility of newly hired employees. The order took effect September 8.
To learn more about E-Verify and the regulations mandating it for federal contractors, read Barnes & Thornburg's Labor Alert on this issue or visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify website.
- The Future of EFCA: "A Moving Target"
The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is heating up, but the situation remains very fluid. Recent statements by President Barack Obama, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and key Democratic senators reflect continued public support for EFCA. Most notably, in mid-September Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) announced in a speech to the AFL-CIO that he and Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have "pounded out" a compromise with labor leaders that he believes will lead to the passage of a bill "before the year is out . . . which will be totally satisfactory to labor." However, after the speech, Senator Specter's office said
that Specter was simply being optimistic about a compromise and clarified that "there's no deal."
To learn more details about the alleged compromise and the status of the EFCA, read Barnes & Thornburg's Labor Alert. eFlash has featured articles about the act in previous issues and will continue to provide updates as warranted.
- EEOC Emphasizes Expansive Interpretation of the ADA Amendments Act in Issuing Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On September 23, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to revise its current regulations under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and implement the employment provisions of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). The EEOC approved the NPRM on September 16 by a split vote of 2-1 (two commissioner seats presently are vacant). The NPRM underscores the expansive interpretation EEOC is applying to the ADAAA, which took effect on January 1. Throughout the NPRM, the EEOC emphasizes (on no fewer than five occasions) Congress's mandate that the ADAAA be construed in favor of broad coverage and
that the determination of whether an individual has a disability should not require extensive analysis.
The NPRM provides a 60-day period for public comments, which must be submitted no later than Nov. 23, 2009. In addition to issuing the NPRM, EEOC also has issued a "Q&A" document that answers certain questions about the NPRM. The Q&A document is available at the EEOC's website.
Employers need to exercise caution in making employment decisions, including decisions regarding reasonable accommodation, to ensure that they do not run afoul of the ADAAA. Barnes & Thornburg's labor alert offers additional assistance.
The above should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion. |
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State HR Conference Wrap-Up
Displays, Deep Dives, and Dashes: Highlights of the 2009 Indiana HR Conference
The Indiana State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management hosted the 15th Annual Indiana Human Resources Conference in Indianapolis from August 31 through September 2. The highlight for FlashPoint was Krista Skidmore's session on connecting strategy with talent acquisition and management (see the summary article at left), which she delivered twice to large audiences. Krista based the presentation on work she has done with Ontario Systems in Muncie, and HR leaders from Ontario joined her in a panel discussion.
The conference was full of other great moments, including:
- The "Everything Legal" kickoff session on Monday afternoon. Ken Yerkes and colleagues at Barnes & Thornburg LLP present this session annually, and it's a great way to learn about new and proposed laws and regulations affecting HR.
- Rich Horwath's "Deep Dive" session. Nearly everyone we talked to who attended said that this offered valuable insights into building strategy and developing strategic leadership.
- The HR Marketplace. This year's marketplace featured a large number of outstanding vendors, and FlashPoint was glad to speak with many conference attendees. This year our display highlighted the work we have done with our clients, and we were excited to give away a door prize featuring some of their products (including a Vera Bradley bag, Pop Weaver popcorn, a Finish Line gift certificate, Bar Keeper's Friend products, and more).
- The first-ever HR Dash Fun Walk/Run. Dozens of participants walked and/or ran a 1-, 2.5-, or 3.5 mile course of their choosing along the Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis. FlashPoint's Jeremy King helped organize this fundraiser for the SHRM Foundation.
- The closing keynote presented by Marshall Goldsmith. Goldsmith, author of the best-seller What Got You Here Won't Get You There, gave an engaging talk to help audience members develop themselves as leaders and provide effective coaching to others. The presentation was fast-paced, interactive, insightful, and humor-filled, and it served as an excellent endnote for the conference.
Next year's state HR conference is scheduled for August 16-18, 2010. We hope to see you there! |
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Apply Now to Join FlashPoint's Strategic HR Peer Group
Human resource professionals face a wide array of business challenges--and no one understands them more than others who work in the field. If you're an HR professional and want to learn how to tackle your role strategically (or if you know someone who does), FlashPoint invites you to consider our yearlong HR peer group.
Peer group is comprised of 10 to 15 HR professionals who meet monthly to explore how they can make a more significant contribution to their organization. FlashPoint's president, Krista Skidmore, facilitates the meetings, which are built around HR competencies research. Participants actively engage themselves through readings, assignments, and open discussions. The meetings take place in a confidential environment, allowing participants to freely explore how to connect HR and business strategies to help their organizations develop a competitive advantage.
To learn more about peer group, visit our website. If you're interested in joining, we encourage you to fill out an application
. We'll hold a kickoff session in December and will meet throughout 2010 in our downtown Indianapolis office. Peer group is popular and fills up quickly--so apply now! |
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Upcoming Events
Indiana Chamber HR Workshops
FlashPoint sponsors the Indiana Chamber's 2009 HR Training Series. Sessions take place in Indianapolis. More information is available at 800.824.6885 or the Chamber's website.
- Model Employee Policies, October 28
- How to Lead in Difficult Times, October 29
Continuing Education Workshops
Looking for cost-effective training opportunities for yourself or your employees? FlashPoint facilitates noncredit courses through the IUPUI Community Learning Network in Indianapolis. For more information or to register, visit the CLN's website.
- Pump Up Your Communication, October 9
Other FlashPoint Speaking Engagements
FlashPoint regularly presents at conferences and association meetings. We hope to see you at the following events!
- Indiana Association of Cities and Towns--Jeremy King will explore how to deal with difficult people, at IACT's annual conference, French Lick, October 5 (more information at IACT's website).
- Northern Indiana Human Resource Management Association--Andrea Cranfill will present a session titled "Building a Case for Your HR Initiatives" at the "Business of HR" fall conference, Michigan City, October 15 (more information at NIHRMA's website).
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