October 2022 – May 2023
Type: Virtual event
Service: Consulting, Talent and Change
Cost: $1,395 per forum
Event contact: Kristina Riddle, kriddle@wipfli.com
Phone: 888.876.4992
Email: gfponline@wipfli.com
Join us for our annual HR forums, starting this fall. Wipfli’s HR forums bring together a cohort of HR professionals who participate in online sessions throughout the program year, resulting in powerful and lasting professional relationships and engaging group problem solving.
Two levels of forums are offered — Essentials and Professional — both of which offer several benefits, including:
- Sound, timely and practical information on current trends and best practices in HR management.
- A professional and confidential environment to discuss and find solutions for your unique HR situations.
- Advice from experienced consultants who understand your challenges.
- An opportunity to engage with like-minded professionals who share experiences and knowledge.
The format
- Meetings are held monthly from October through May and are approximately 2 hours in length.
- Sessions are designed to be interactive in a virtual format, where participants will share experiences and insights and have opportunities for discussions.
- Written materials and supporting documents are provided for each topic.
Please join us for one of our two forums.
Human Resources Essentials Forum
Wipfli’s Human Resources Essentials Forum is designed to provide education in functional human resources areas. We’ll discuss current trends and best practices in an interactive, virtual environment that encourages the asking of questions with the benefit of group input.
Who should attend:
The Essentials forum is ideal for individuals who may not have formal training in HR management but have HR responsibilities, as well as individuals who may be new to the field or have a desire to expand, refresh or strengthen their core HR knowledge.
Topics:
October: Creating an effective employee handbook
A well-written employee handbook is the single source for employees to find information on policies and practices impacting them. We’ll discuss handbook policies in detail and provide participants with sample policies and an employee handbook checklist.
November: Understanding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The FLSA has had few changes since its inception in 1938 and yet it is one of the most perplexing areas for HR professionals to navigate. Exemption status, overtime laws and recordkeeping are just a few areas we’ll cover.
December: Complying with state and federal laws
HR professionals maneuver through ADA, FMLA and PPACA every day. This session covers employment laws as well as discrimination and harassment. Participants will receive wage and hour information, federal record retention requirements and records retention guidelines.
January: Recruiting and selecting employees
In today’s tight labor market, HR professionals must be savvy recruiters. Sourcing and recruiting qualified candidates are essential to operate the business with minimal disruption and optimal performance. We’ll cover in detail the dimensions of recruiting and selecting employees. Participants will receive sample documents, including a job description questionnaire, sample employment application and many selection documents that can be customized.
February: Managing performance
The employee evaluation process and philosophy hasn’t changed much over the years, including the stigma of being the “dreaded annual event.” HR professionals have an opportunity, with the right tools and mindset, to change the way managers and employees respond to the performance management process. This session provides ideas, trends and tools for you to use to create a positive experience for both employees and management.
March: Addressing negative employee behavior
Managing negative employee behavior is the least favorite job of HR professionals, and yet, when handled thoughtfully and appropriately, the results can be positive. We’ll cover in-depth different types of employee problems, forms of discipline and how to handle terminations. Participants will receive valuable practical information to become more comfortable handling employee problems.
April: Designing a compensation system
Developing a compensation system starts with the organization’s compensation philosophy. Only then can HR proceed with developing a pay structure. This session covers both internal and external pay equity, salary structure development and incentive pay systems. Participants will receive an internal equity analysis tool.
May: Understanding benefits
Employers are required to provide employees with certain mandated benefits. That’s a given. However, the list of voluntary benefits is endless. We’ll explore the most popular benefits and discuss new and emerging benefits.
You will need to leverage an existing login or create a new account to proceed with registration:
- Register Now: Human Resources Essentials Forum - All Industries
- Register Now: Human Resources Essentials Forum - Financial Services
- Register Now: Human Resources Essentials Forum - Nonprofit
Human Resources Professional Forum
The pace of organizational change is accelerating. With a new contingent of remote workers in most organizations and a return to “normal” for others, new and different challenges arise, and HR priorities have shifted.
Wipfli’s Human Resources Professional Forum is designed to provide information and guidance on current and cutting-edge topics of interest to HR professionals, with practical information that you can implement immediately. Consider joining us for thought-provoking discussions, timely information and an open environment to share.
Who should attend:
The curriculum is geared toward professionals with the desire to explore and discuss organizational development initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of the HR function within their organization. This forum is appropriate for individuals who have experience in HR management.
Topics:
October: Conflict management and coaching
Everyone lives with conflict, but most people are conflict avoidant. While this is understandable, effective conflict management is a key competency for HR professionals. Given the appropriate tools, and when conflict is managed well, handling conflict can become less stressful and can bring about positive change. In this session, we’ll explore methods to resolve conflict to create a better understanding of others’ opinions and desires and to reach an acceptable solution.
November: Strategic foresight and creating your future vision and workforce
Foresight is a skill that enables an organizational leader to understand lessons from the past, realities of the present, and the likely consequence of decisions on their organization in the future. Developing this skill helps leaders position their organization with intention. While many organizations have a strategic plan that serves as a roadmap for organizational growth and sustainability, most, unfortunately, don’t align that plan to their HR strategy. In this session, we will explore six key factors that can connect the two.
December: Benefit trends
A robust benefit offering can give organizations a competitive edge with recruiting and retaining employees. Discover the types of benefits employees want — including financial wellness, tuition options, work-life balance and other lifestyle benefits, and many other voluntary benefit offerings available in today’s marketplace. In this session, we will explore benefit trends.
January: Problem-solving techniques
Problem solving takes a lot of time and can be quite daunting. Learning how problems can be identified in the early stages and before they escalate is an important part of the process and can help you determine how to resolve them. In this session, you will learn about and practice an effective technique used to resolve problems following a tested and proven methodology.
February: Personal catastrophe — when illness and death strike
Serious illness and death in the workplace or off the job are highly emotional situations that can easily transform into difficult employee relations and even public relations challenges. In this session, we’ll cover medical leave issues as well as issues that may surface when addressing life’s most difficult times.
March: Fraud — what to do when an employee steals from you
Employee theft is not a question of if but how often and how much. Most businesses have experienced employee theft in one form or another. Over 75% of employees also admitted to pilfering from their workplace. Many rationalize that periodically dipping into the pot will not hurt the business, as the theft amounts are negligible. The small thefts combine to losses equal to 5% of annual business revenue, while annual inventory loss rates can be as high as 43% in the US. In this session, we will explore the signs of theft that employers must watch and how to mitigate damage.
April: Approaches to employee development
Due in part to the shift in the current workforce and low availability of qualified candidates, employee development is top of mind for HR professionals. Accelerating the growth and development of employees is of critical importance in this competitive and dynamic labor market. This session covers several approaches to development, including development plans, career blueprinting and mentoring.
May: Employment law update
In this session, an employment law attorney joins us to share current trends and the “hot” issues and areas of concern that HR professionals need to know.
You will need to leverage an existing login or create a new account to proceed with registration:
- Register Now: Human Resources Professional Forum - All Industries
- Register Now: Human Resources Professional Forum - Financial Services
- Register Now: Human Resources Professional Forum - Nonprofit
