HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

UNION GRADUATE COLLEGE

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

HR in the NEWS

June 2, 2008

HR AT UNION GRADUATE COLLEGE

CONGRATULATIONS TO HR STUDENTS

Congratulations to the following HR students who  were recently honored with scholarships by Cioffi, Slezak, & WIldgrube and Mohawk Ambulance Service:

Michelle Strand

Carrie Turco

Kelly LeTarte

Haimanot Kelbessa

Kristina Hicks

Traci Graham

Rachael DeCrescendo

A sincere thanks to Cris Cioffi and Jim McPartlon for their support of the HR Program.

HR STUDENTS TO PRESENT AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Carrie Turco and Sharon Butler will present their work on training programs on sexual harassment at the annual conference of the International Coalition Against Sexual Harassment in August. 

CONGRATULATIONS ON NEW PUBLICATION

Michele Paludi has announced the publication by Praeger of her three volume book set entitled:    "The Psychology of Women at Work:  Challenges and Solutions for our Female Workforce"

                Volume 1:  Career Liberation, History and the New Millennium

                Volume 2:  Obstacles and the Identity Juggle

                Volume 3:  Self, Family, and Social Effects

Michele invited UGC faculty and students to contribute a chapter to one of the volumes:  Alan Belasen, Zhilan Feng, Mike Mathias,Bea Hall,Sue Lehrman,

Luann Hart,Carrie Turco,Haimanot Kelbessa,Sharon Butler.

Union College Psychology major Christa White also contributed to one of the volumes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KEN MOORE

Ken Moore was a Keynote Speaker at the Annual Trainers Institute in Istanbul, Turkey on May 28. 

CAPITAL REGION HR ASSOCIATION

The final meeting of the year for the Capital Region HR Association will be held on Wednesday, June 11.   Let Michele Paludi know if you would like to attend the meeting at the Italian American Community Center from 5-8PM.

NEW YORK STATE HR ASSOCIATION NEWS

The New York State Human Resource Association will host its annual conference on July 13-15 at the Saratoga Hilton Hotel.  The theme for this year's conference is:  "HR's Triple Crown: Strategize, Lead, Deliver."  For information about this conference, check:  www.nysshrm.org

UPCOMING HR CONFERENCES

SHRM'S

60TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION

June 22-25

Chicago ILL Sheraton

www.shrm.org

SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS

July 31-August 2

Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers

www.sssp1.org

INTERNATIONAL COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

August 3, 2008

Boston, MA

Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers

Contact:  Co-chair, Michele Paludi at mpaludi@aol.com

SHRM'S STRATEGY CONFERENCE
September 24-26

Palm Springs, CA Westin

www.shrm.org

SHRM DIVERSITY CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION

October 27-29

Atlanta, GA  Marriott

www.shrm.org

HR INFORMATION YOU CAN USE

June 5:  Saratoga-Adirondack JSEC presents:  "Hiring the Right Person."  Longfellows Restaurant, 8-10 AM.  Contact 743-0925, ext. 887.

June 10:  Schenectady JSEC presents:  "Employee Motivation and Morale."  Mallozzi's Restaurant, 8-10 AM.  Contact:  Cathy Bucci, 462-7600.

June 13:  Hudson-Mohawk Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development:  "Jumper Cables for the Soul-Soft Skills?  Hard Knocks, Real Life!"  Mariott  Hotel, Albany, 8-10 AM.  Contact:  www.hudsonmohawkastd.org

 HR LEGISLATION

Recent Supreme Court rulings on retaliation claims are important to HR professionals.  On May 27, the US Supreme Court ruled in two decisions that employees may sue for retaliation under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 as well as under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

The New York State Fair Pay Act has passed the Assembly and has been referred to the Senate Labor Committee.  The intent of this legislation is to "eliminate discriminatory wage practices based on sex, race and/or national origin."

The 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals let a discharged couple, William and Debra Trujillo,  proceed to trial with a claim that they were fired from PacificCorp in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, in violation of the American with Disabilities Act after their son suffered a relapse of brain cancer.  The court ruled that the evidence provided a reasonable inference that Mr. and Mrs. Trujillos  may have been discriminated against by the company because of their association with their disabled son.  In addition, the court reinstated the Trujillos' Employee Retirement Income Security Act claim in which they alleged they had been terminated for the purpose of interfering with their employee benefits.

A recent 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in United States v. BWXT Y-12 LLC 6th Cir., No. 07-6051 indicates that companies must have a whistleblowing policy in place that creates an affirmative duty for employees to report any violations of law.  Furthermore, companies should not take or threaten to take any action against the reporting employee as a reprisal for making a good-faith complaint.   The HR department must conduct an appropriate follow-up interview when employees report retaliation. 

On April 15, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed into law a bill that will prohibit smoking in workplaces.  Iowa is the 14th state to have such legislation in place.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ban that  Sacred Heart, an acute care hospital in Spokane, Washington put on their nurses wearing "RNS Demand Safe Staffing" buttons during collective bargaining negotiations is an unfair labor practice.

 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ISSUES NEW GUIDELINES

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a guidance on how agency-enforced laws apply to employees with caregiving responsibilities.  This guidance is being issued by the EEOC as a proactive measure to address an emerging discrimination issue in the 21st century workplace. The document, Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities, offers examples under which discrimination against a working parent or other caregiver may constitute unlawful disparate treatment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). This guidance notes that changing workplace demographics have created the potential for greater discrimination against working parents and others with caregiving responsibilities, such as eldercare – all of which may vary by gender, race or ethnicity. For additional information, contact:   www.eeoc.gov