HR Matters
Texas SHRM
Promote the SHRM Annual Conference via e-mail to all chapter members.
Be sure that you are maintaining your chapter affiliation requirement throughout the year.
If there have been any changes in your volunteers, report them to your Regional Administrator.
Keep SHRM informed of any changes to volunteer e-mail addresses, contact information, and role changes.Host a speaker on current/upcoming legislative issues (see governmental affairs best practices in the SHAPE planning workbook for other ideas).
Promote HR Certification program and encourage members to become certified. Set up or determine the feasibility of having a local study group or provide certification prep materials and available courses to your members.
Each month the SHRM-TSC will randomly place the name of one of our chapter members in the newsletter. When you find your name (which will have the word "Winner" typed beside it) simply e-mail Dena Culpepper at the Council office (denaculpepper@att.net) and she will send your your prize. Thanks for reading!
The SHRM-Texas State Council is proud to unveil our new website. Please visit us at http://texas.shrm.org to locate all the latest details on State and local chapter events, helpful resource information and to locate the State leaders who can help you and your chapter succeed. Please let us know your thoughts on the site by sending us an e-mail at texasshrm@gmail.com
TAB and SHRM-TSC Employment Relations Symposium:
The Texas Association of Business and the SHRM-Texas State Council host this annual employment relations symposium, attended by almost 300 business owners, human resource professionals, attorneys and accountants.
The Symposium offers invaluable and comprehensive information on cutting edge labor law trends and legal tips from top attorneys, continuing education credits, access to top-notch vendors and innovative support services, and professional networking opportunities.
Sponsorships and exhibit booths are available. For more information on sponsorships contact TAB Event Coordinator Lori Buntin at lbuntin@txbiz.org
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The event is being held at the beautiful Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, July 18-July 20. You can get details and register here.
Rebecca Nutt - Winner
The Bay Area HRMA partnered with e Dress for Success Charities to help under-privileged women gain job interview skills training, guidance in professional interview attire. The Bay Area HRMA made a generous donation of business suits and $150 cash.
DallasHR
Did you know? Baylor University has a live bear on campus.
Bruce Waller (DallasHR President) and Jackie Eason (Director of College Relations) recently traveled to Waco, Texas to speak to about 50 College of Business students at Baylor University about HR careers and how a local SHRM organization can add value to a professional career. They were humbled by the opportunity to share their work and volunteer experiences, as well as the amazing benefits a local SHRM chapter has to offer an HR professional. Their message was focused on the benefits of local membership. Information on scholarships, student SHRM organization opportunities, and student sponsorships for events were provided. Bruce and Jackie were highly impressed with the group in attendance and say they are now fans of the Baylor Bears...They extend their thanks to Dr. Joe Cox (Chapter Sponsor), and the Baylor Association of Human Resources – BHAR for hosting them. These new fans look forward to seeing some of the BU students at the upcoming The HRSouthwest Conference this fall...
Pictured L-R: Bruce Waller. Mary Nguyen, Lauren Phillips, Marley Huckabee, Blake Cole, Jackie Eason, and Dr. Joe Cox
DallasHR
On Thursday,April 5th, our Community Relations Committee hosted a Spring event with Launch Ability at the Spring Valley United Methodist Church from 6:30pm-8:00p . This fun filled event benefitted children with disabilities and their families who depend on the education and services provided by Launch Ability. Some of our Dallas HR Volunteers got to entertain the children and their families while hosting game stations like duck toss and bowling,while others assisted with face painting and crafts There were additional helpers from UNT who helped serve popcorn and pizza to the 200 guests. The event came to a close with an outdoor easter egg hunt where the kids carried colorful bags and searched for eggs filled with candy and treats. This event brought many smiles to families that night, and we can't wait to partner with them again in the fall. Thanks to all who volunteered for this event.
In the ever-changing tug-of-war between the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB" or the "Board") and employers, two recent court decisions have called into question the NLRB's August 2011 final rule ("the Rule"), which would have required most private sector employers to post a notice, by April 30, 2012, advising employees of their rights under the National Labor Relation, Act ("the Act"). The NLRB is the federal government's administrative agency that coniders unfair labor practices and employee rights under the Act. The posting Rule has caused a firestorm of business protests.
As a result of the differing opinions by federal trial courts for the D.C. Circuit and for South Carolina, the NLRB has been enjoined (effective April 17, 2012) to suspend its Rule set for implementation on April 30th. The Board announced the injunction on its website.
Important note: In light of conflicting decisions at the district court level, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals has temperaly enjoined the NLRB's rule requiring the posting of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act, which had been scheduled to take effect on April 30, 2012. In March, the D.C. District Court found that the agency had the authority to issue the rule. In April, the South Carolina District Court found that the agency did not. The agency will appeal the South Carolina decision.
Regional offices will not implement the rule pending the resolution of the issues before the court. http://www.nlrb.gov/poster . Thus, given the injunction, the Rule will not currently affect employers, at least until the matter is fully determined in the courts.
Employers should keep an eye out for the posting decision, which ultimately may require Supreme Court review.
If the Rule is upheld, it will be the first ime that the Board will force employers to display a poster about employee NLRA right . The NLRB determined that the reason for this "Notice Posting Rule" was the belief at many employees are unaware of their rights under the Act and therefore cannot effectively exercise those rights. In response, employers have argued, led by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, that the Board was without the authority to issue this kind of rule.
The posting, if it is finally allowed, will require that more than six million employers inform workers of their right to join a union and act together to improve wages and working conditions. It also informs employees of their right not to join a union, but opponents have argued that the countervailing expression is buried in the proposed poster. Business groups have complained the poster is an unfair government effort to promote union organizing.
How might the posting decision affect Texas, a largely non-union state, if it is later approved by the courts?
Texas along with 21 other states has 'right to work" laws that ban union security agreements. In other words, this kind of Iaw protects employees from threats, force, intimidation, or coercion for choosing to either participate or not participate in a union. One might argue that the Rule seems in conflict, to some extent, with Texas' law, which is designed to make union membership (or not) a neutral employee issue.
There are also concerns that the Board's current actions may threaten Texas' strong job growth. The latest BLS statistic indicate that Texas leads the nation for highest rate of job growth between 2004 and 2011. In order to sustain this growth, recommendations were made during the State of Texas' 82nd Session, (when considering Interim Charges Relating to 8 Business and Commerce), to (A) study approaches to licensing and regulation of occupations to ensure protection of public welfare, trust, health and safety and to (B) eliminate unnecessay overly restrictive or anti-competitive regulations. One may argue that recent NLRB actions have been in conflict with these latter goals, posing challenges for future job growth in Texas.
Business interests have argued that the posting requirement is but one example of the current Board acting in a "rogue" and aggressively anti-business manner. During the present administration, the NLRB's actions have been labeled by some as "overly restrictive" and "anti-competitive."
For example, in addition to the posting Rule, another hotly debated Board action has involved its lawsuit against Boeing Cqmpany. In 2010, The Boeing Company announced its intentions to expand its Dremliner 787 production in South Carolina. The NLRB declared that Boeing's move was in retaliation for strikes by unionized workers at its existing facilities in Washington State, and, consequently, the Board's General Counsel sued Boeing. At the end of the day, Boeing created new jobs in South Carolina as well as increasing positions in its Washington plant. Then, when a new union contract was signed in late 2011, e NLRB charges against Boeing were dropped, though after many months of outcry across the country.
Finally, there have been other questions raised about the Board and its constituency- whether it has had a proper quorum, at times, and whether the current membership, made up of three appointees named by President Obama during an early 2012 disputed Senate "recess," should have been formally approved by the Senate.
In short, the Board's actions during the current administration have been questioned by many businesses. Thus, man American businesses, including those in Texas, must remain vigilant of Board action . Additionally, Texas legislators should also be alert to any changes coming from the NLRB that could potentially impact Texas' continued progress in job creation or could result in conflicts with the State's "right to work" law.
Whether the posting Rule ultimate! is permitted we have to await. In the interim, all employers must be vigilant of oard action and court review of same.
Authors: Liz Castle and Andrea Johnson
Are you seeking your certification? Planning to go back to school for your master’s degree? Just want some guidance on relevant issues to your workplace and the HR profession? If so, the SHRM Foundation can be a great resource for you!
About the SHRM Foundation
The SHRM Foundation's work includes:
· Innovative academic research grants. The SHRM Foundation is a leading funder of HR research. Over the past three years, the SHRM Foundation has awarded more than $1.8 million in grants to fund rigorous, original academic research with practical implications for HR management practice.
· Scholarships. The SHRM Foundation awards $170,000 annually in education and certification scholarships to professional and student SHRM members, and doctoral students.
· Educational resources. The SHRM Foundation's Effective Practice Guidelines series makes research findings easily accessible to HR practitioners. The Foundation has also created a series of educational DVDs for SHRM chapter programming, staff trainings, and executive education sessions.
Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships!
Scholarships for HR Professionals Are you a SHRM member pursuing a college degree (HR, business, psychology, etc.) or professional certification? The SHRM Foundation will award $100,000 in scholarships to SHRM professional members in 2012.
The scholarships are allocated equally among the five SHRM geographic regions, which means you are competing only with applicants in your own part of the country.
Recipients are selected primarily on merit, and a significant portion of the selection criteria includes HR involvement and future career plans, as well as volunteer activities and leadership experience. Academic scholarships are available to those working toward a graduate or undergraduate college degree in HR or a related field. Certification scholarships are available to those working toward certification (SPHR, GPHR, PHR, or California) and to affiliated SHRM chapters and state councils that are organizing local certification preparation programs.
The application deadline is July 16, 2012. For more information, choose "Scholarships and Awards" on the SHRM Foundation website (www.shrm.org/foundation).
Student Scholarships
The SHRM Foundation supports the next generation of HR leaders through a variety of awards programs for students and educators. Each year, the SHRM Foundation awards $50,000 in scholarships to SHRM student members. In addition to education scholarships, this year the Foundation will offer scholarships of $200 each for students taking the new Assurance of Learning Assessment.
The SHRM Foundation recognizes the important work of SHRM student chapter advisors by supporting the annual Advisor of the Year Award. In addition, the SHRM Foundation partners with the HR Division of the Academy of Management to present four $5,000 awards to promising doctoral dissertation students. These are just a few ways the SHRM Foundation is investing in the future. And it's all made possible with your generous donations. For more information on SHRM Foundation awards please visit www.shrm.org/foundation and select "Scholarships and Awards".
Education Galore!
Educational DVDs
The SHRM Foundation has created a series of educational DVDs that feature real-world case studies of successful companies that align HR strategy with corporate business objectives. The DVDs are distributed free of charge to SHRM chapters, educators and businesses. The SHRM Foundation also offers a discussion guide and PowerPoint presentation for use in SHRM chapter programming, staff trainings, or executive education sessions. The HR Certification Institute has approved many of the DVDs for one hour of credit, when used with the companion materials as part of a 1-hour educational session (see the Foundation website for details).
The Foundation’s newest DVD, Doing Well by Doing Good: Global Sustainability at Aditya Birla Group describes the Aditya Birla Group’s ongoing investment in social and economic development in the communities in which they operate. All of the Foundation’s DVDs are available for viewing online. For more information about the DVDs, visit the "SHRM Foundation Products" section of the SHRM Foundation's website at www.shrm.org/foundation.
Effective Practice Guidelines
If you are like most HR professionals, you probably lack the time to keep up with the latest research findings in human resource management. Yet knowing which HR practices have been shown by research to be effective can help you in your role as an HR professional. The SHRM Foundation’s Effective Practice Guidelines are a series of reports that distill the latest research findings and expert opinion into specific advice on how to conduct effective HR practice. They are written in a concise, easy-to-read style to provide practical information to help you do your job better.
The SHRM Foundation publishes new reports each year. Recent reports include Promoting Employee Well-Being (focuses on wellness and prevention programs and their impact on the workforce), Transforming HR through Technology (explores both the opportunities and the potential pitfalls of HR technology) and Onboarding New Employees: Maximizing Success. All of the titles are available as free .pdf downloads under "SHRM Foundation Products" on the Foundation website (www.shrm.org/foundation).
Give to the organization that gives back to the HR Profession!
To fund its programs, the SHRM Foundation conducts an annual fundraising campaign. The Foundation recognizes the generous support of the SHRM chapters and state councils, individuals, corporations and others who make its work possible. Your financial support is vital to ensure that the SHRM Foundation can continue this important work. Donate today!
