RRHRPA Bulletin Board
The RRHRPA Bulletin Board is provided as a service to members. It contains general information about our chapter and it's members, including but not limited to job postings, meeting announcements, articles of interest, etc. Members are allowed to submit information to be published on the bulletin board by sending their request to rrhrpa@gmail.com. All requests are posted at the discretion of the Communications Chairperson and/or the Board of Directors.Scroll down to see past announcements. Most recent posts are at the top of the page and bolded headlines are featured in this month's Bulletin Board.
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Posted 4/9/2024 - HR Question & Answer of the Month
HR Question: We’ve generally been tolerant of harmless pranks, but recently, an employee placed a suggestive picture on a coworker’s workstation and another employee saw it and complained. How should we respond?
Answer: It sounds like this prank could have crossed the line into harassment, even though the person who was offended wasn’t necessarily the intended target. As an employer, you have an obligation to prevent and deal with harassment complaints promptly and thoroughly. To that end, follow your standard procedure to investigate the incident and take appropriate action.
Be sure to document every step of your investigation and resulting actions taken so you can show you fulfilled your obligations. Having a clear record will also help you ensure similar situations are handled consistently in the future.
Going forward, you could prohibit pranks of any sort, but if they remain harmless and inoffensive while also inspiring joy in the workplace, a blanket ban might not be necessary. On the other hand, if most employees don’t enjoy the pranks or they’re significantly disruptive to the workplace, it might be time to lay down some new expectations around professionalism. In either case, employees should understand what lines not to cross and that “just having fun” is no excuse for violating company policies.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - HR Question & Answer of the Month
HR Question: A remote employee told us they were injured at home during their workday. What are our responsibilities?
Answer: When an employee informs you that they were injured while working from home, take the claim seriously and follow your usual procedure for a workplace injury. Here are the steps we recommend:
- Thank them for letting you know about the injury and ask if they need medical attention. If necessary, help them get it. Their health and safety should be your first priority.
- Have the employee complete a workers’ compensation claim form, which can be obtained from your carrier. The carrier should be notified as soon as possible.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Article: New IL & Chicago Law for 2024
We thank, Anna Garcia, our Legislative Chair for providing us with the linked article from our IL SHRM State Legislative Directory regarding new IL laws.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Webinar: Paid Leave for All Workers JCAR Update
the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) pushed consideration of the Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) changes to its proposed rule for the implementation and enforcement of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act (PLAWA) until JCAR’s next meeting scheduled for March 12th.The Illinois Chamber will reach out to IDOL and engage them in the discussions recommended by JCAR. The Department is holding a webinar on March 21st. You can click here for more information on how to register.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Upcoming Job Fair @ SVCC
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Galena Wine Trip
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Industrial Maintenance Bootcamp
SVCC will be hosting an Industrial Maintenance Bootcamp May 13th-17th, 2024 regarding various topics. Please click here for more information.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - 7 Week Auto Tech Program
SVCC and Whiteside Area Career Center will be hosting a 7 week, entry level, automotive technician program. Students will gain an entry level understanding in suspension and steering, brakes, exhaust systems, and routine maintenance and servicing of vehicle systems. Classes begin on May 28th, 2024. Please click here for more information.
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Posted 3/9/2024 - Bridging Differences (How Do You Handle?)
We thank, Rebecca Munoz-Ripley, our Diversity Chair for informing us of the linked quiz that can help you assess and reflect on how you handle differences with others! She has also included for us the handbook that is given at the end of the assessment for our convenience. Please click here for the handbook.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted 2/11/2024 - HR Question & Answer of the Month
HR Question: Can we ask employees if they are taking any medications that may impair their abilities to do their job?
Answer: Generally, no. The Americans with Disabilities Act restricts employers from asking medical questions of employees and protects the privacy of medical information. Asking about prescription medications would fall into the category of a medical-related inquiry and should only be done if job related and consistent with business necessity.
For such an inquiry to be job related and consistent with business necessity, you must have a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that an employee's ability to perform essential job functions will be impaired by a medical condition or that an employee will pose a direct threat to employee or public safety because of a medical condition.
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Upcoming Event: Heartland Healthcare Coalition's 21st Annual Conference
The Heartland Healthcare Coalition will be hosting their 21st Annual Conference on Friday April 26th, 2024 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in East Peoria, IL. Their guest speakers will be covering the latest hot button issues in healthcare!
The registration deadline is April 10th, 2024. Please see the attached flyer for more information!
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Illinois SHRM State Conference
Register NOW for the 25th Annual Illinois SHRM Conference!
The conference will be held April 30th-May 2nd, 2024 at the stunning Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Please see the attached flyer for more information and how to register!
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Webinar: New Year, New Illinois Laws
The Illinois Chamber will be hosting a webinar on February 15th titled 'New Year, New Illinois Laws'. You can click here for more information and how to register. If you register, be sure to mention that you heard about the webinar through RRHRPA and that we're affiliated with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce!
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Webinar: What You May Have Missed in Illinois Workers' Compensation
The Illinois Chamber will be hosting a webinar on February 27th titled 'What You May Have Missed in Illinois Workers' Compensation'. You can click here for more information and how to register. If you register, be sure to mention that you heard about the webinar through RRHRPA and that we're affiliated with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce!
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Webinar: Wells Fargo's Neurodiversity Program
We thank, Rebecca Munoz-Ripley, our Diversity Chair for informing us of the linked webinar titled 'Beyond Inclusion: Wells Fargo's Blueprint for Neurodiversity Success' that will be held on March 14th. Wells Fargo will be unveiling the secrets behind their neurodiversity programs' unparalleled success. Their strategies have resulted in 98% employee retention!
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Posted 2/11/2024 - Free Veteran Skills Training @ SVCC
Join Goodwill & Sauk Valley Community College for FREE Veteran Skills Training! Connect with fellow veterans, broaden your network, and gain insights into diverse topics to enhance both your career and personal life throughout the year. They will be hosting several upcoming events in 2024. Their first event for the year will be held on February 28th. Please see the attached flyer for more information and how to RSVP.
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Posted 1/10/2024 - 2024 Minimum Wage Rates by State
Click on the link below for an overview of the new 2024 minimum wage rates by state as well as what is forecasted for 2025 in certain states!
sites/rrhrpa.shrm.org/files/2024%20State%20Minimum%20Wage%20Rates%20120423.pdf
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Posted 1/10/2024 - 2024 HR Roundtables
The Illinois Chamber will be hosting four virtual HR Roundtables in 2024 with the first meeting beginning on January 25th. These roundtables are hosted by a HR consultant and are NOT webinars. They are for you and the hot topics you want to discuss. Example topics discussed: best practices in training your employees, getting/keeping the right talent, employee handbooks - bring them for discussion, and your issues/questions.
You can click here for more information and how to register. If you register, be sure to mention that you heard about their roundtables through RRHRPA and that we're affiliated with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce!
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Posted 1/10/2024 - FMLA, ADA, Workers' Comp, and IL Leave Laws Webinar
The Illinois Chamber will be hosting a webinar on January 18th titled The Intersection Between FMLA, ACA, Workers' Comp, and Illinois Leave Laws: Avoiding Pitfalls and Improving Compliance. You can click here for more information and how to register. If you register, be sure to mention that you heard about the webinar through RRHRPA and that we're affiliated with the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce!
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Posted 1/10/2024 - Workforce Safety Courses at SVCC
If you're looking to promote a safe and healthy work environment at your work place, visit www.svcc.edu/employer-services for course information!
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Posted 1/10/2024 - Making Self Care a Priority in 2024
We thank, Anna Garcia, our Legislative Chair for providing us with the linked article from Hacking HR on how to make self care a priority in 2024.
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Posted 11/2/2023 - Lunch and Learn
Here is a link to a Lunch and Learn shared with us by Rhonda DeWitte sponsored by the Sauk Valley Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
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Posted 11/2/2023 - Paid Leave for all Workers FAQ
Attached is the link provided by Julie Hoak to the most recently published FAQ for the Paid Leave for all Workers Act which was discussed at our Summer Seminar.
https://labor.illinois.gov/faqs/paidleavefaq.html
And Rebecca Munoz-Ripley also provided us with this link for upcoming webinars and more information on the Act https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/paidleave.html
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Posted 11/2/2023 - SVCC Trip
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Posted 11/2/2023 - Trips and Falls training
Kendra Hull provided us with some recent training she went through for Trips and Falls and making your workplace safer. /sites/rrhrpa.shrm.org/files/Slip%20Trip%20and%20Falls%20Training.docx
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Posted 10/3/2023 - PFLAG Dinner
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