Participates will be introduced to the basics of interpreting an EEO Complaint, how to recognize the prima facia elements that the Charging Party (employee) must met to establish a claim of discrimination, how to develop an allegation, and elements of a ROI.

During this webinar, participants will benefit will learn about real life case scenarios, basic techniques to developing an IP which guides the investigation process and producing a thorough, comprehensive ROI with content that is thorough and which provides the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) with important information if a charge is filed against the company.

One of the main points addressed will be the production of a thorough IP that will help workplace investigators mitigate complaints as they arise. HR practitioners who preside over employment discrimination complaints and who have basic understanding and knowledge of the investigation process can help companies reduce litigation. In contrast, an HR generalist with limited understanding, or limited knowledge in processing workplace discrimination complaints may jeopardize the process, resulting in an unfavorable agency decision, penalty, or fine.

Participants will have access to examples of different IPs and ROIs which they can incorporate at their respective workplaces and use as a best practice strategy for investigating workplace discrimination complaints if they choose to do so. To learn more, please join us on Thursday, December 14th at 1:00 pm ET.

Speaker:

Charlene McAdory, Principal/Founder, McAdory & Associates Consulting Group

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

A culture of healthy feedback is one that people want to work in. It fuels collaboration, innovation, and creative conflict—the essential ingredients of high-impact organizations serving the public. And healthy feedback is the foundation for an inclusive organization in which inequities can be surfaced and appropriately addressed while enabling all people to thrive.

Join us on November 16th at 1:00 pm ET to learn the fundamental practices of giving and receiving feedback while considering how power dynamics and identity impact communication at work. You'll walk away with practical tools for feedback conversations and strategies to integrate them into your organization's culture.

Speakers:

Viva Asmelash, Co-Founder, Liberation Labs

Michael Gregor, Co-Founder, Liberation Labs

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

Please join us for a lively discussion on how to create a culture of accountability and not blame.

In every organization, there are times when challenges occur, processes breakdown and when deadlines are missed.  At these times, it’s common for communication breakdowns to occur, for defensiveness to erupt, and for progress to halt. When people have the skill to describe problems without laying blame or attacking people, they transform finger-pointing and fault-finding into taking responsibility for finding solutions and solving problems.

Effectively dialogue in a way that gets to the root cause of problems. Get people to take ownership for finding solutions and for making needed changes. Foster greater innovation, inclusion and collaboration within your organization by implementing a Safe Conversations Communication Framework for holding accountability conversations.

Learn to:

• Develop dialogue that overcomes resistance while holding people accountable
• Safely address behaviors that hinder individual, team, and organizational success
• Increase team engagement, performance, and productivity
• Create safety while decreasing workplace tension
• Create an environment that fosters collective accountability 

To learn more, please join us on November 9th at 1:00 pm EST.

Speaker:  

Lorie Reichel-Howe

Founder, Conversations in the Workplace 

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

Costly claims can be devastating to a city or municipality. According to the National Safety Council, the average workers' compensation claim costs more than $40,000 per incident. In addition to workers' comp issues, public entities face tremendous liability from harassment claims and other lawsuits.

HR managers know these risks well, but how can they defend their organizations? This webinar will address three of the most significant threats facing cities and municipalities: vehicle accidents, slips, trips and falls, and harassment claims. We will discuss the latest information and statistics around workers' comp, what's at stake for cities and municipalities, and how they can better protect themselves with dynamic training.

This webinar will cover the following:

 How a public entity can protect its bottom line by ensuring personnel who operate city-owned vehicles are adequately trained and licensed

• How cities can effectively train employees and reduce claims from slips, trips, and fall incidents
• How harassment prevention training can help ensure compliance and reduce liability
• How public entities can schedule, deliver, and track valuable training that addresses these three costly risks using Vector Solutions

During this engaging webinar with Vector Solutions, the leader in computer-based compliance training for public entities, please join us to learn about workers' compensation issues and lawsuit liabilities. We will dive into three top risks and explain how Vector Solutions' training management system can help.

To learn more, please join us on October 19th at 1:00 pm EDT.*

Speakers:

• Robbi King, Solutions Engineer, Vector Solutions
• Matt Shronts, Solutions Engineer, Vector Solutions

Sponsored by:

This webinar is open to members and non-members.  

*The following contact information will be shared with the sponsor: name, title, organization, phone and/or email, city, state, and zip." 

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, embracing a Growth Mindset has become a vital strategic imperative for success. 

In this session, attendees will dive deep into the world of Growth Mindset, a groundbreaking psychological framework pioneered by renowned Stanford psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck. This concept reveals how our beliefs about our abilities impact our performance, and how adopting a Growth Mindset can unlock our true potential, igniting breakthroughs in personal and organizational achievements.  To learn more, please join us on Tuesday, September 26th at 1:00 pm EDT.

  Key Takeaways:

• Gain a deep understanding of the principles and science behind the Growth Mindset
• Develop strategies to embrace failures, bounce back from setbacks, and foster a mindset of learning and adaptability
• Learn practical techniques to foster a culture that values continuous learning, curiosity, and personal growth for employees at all levels
• Explore proven methods to encourage risk-taking, out-of-the-box thinking, and cross-collaboration that foster innovation and creativity
• Develop essential leadership strategies which create a psychologically safe environment that empowers teams to embrace challenges and strive for growth

Speaker:  

Sabine Gedeon, Founder & CEO, Gedeon Enterprises

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

Many public sector organizations struggle to fill vacancies and prevent turnover. This puts more work and responsibility on fewer people. But new research reveals how employers can drive higher job satisfaction and keep workers around. Learn more in this webinar brought to you by Polco and PSHRA.

Retention issues have dominated government headlines for the past three years. But very few offer solutions — until now!

National Research Center (NRC) at Polco has surveyed thousands of public sector employees on how they feel about their jobs. Results show areas of the government workplace that matter most for retention. And there’s proof that data-based decision-making works.

In this webinar’s panel discussion, you’ll hear from City Manager Victor Cardenas about how Novi, MI, has become a top rated local government workplace and how they engage employees. Plus, get real-world insights from Adrienne Wise, international keynote speaker and CEO of Wise Choice Counseling and Consulting Services, about how your organization can support employee mental wellness, reduce burnout, and increase retention.

You will also learn more best practices and national statistics from NRC at Polco related specifically to the public sector workplace. Knowing this information can help all government employers create the kind of workplace that makes skilled staff want to stay.

In this webinar:

• Data highlights from The National Employee Survey (The NES)
• Best practices in employee engagement
• Examples of how governments are driving employee satisfaction
• Tips for increasing employee retention

 Speakers:

• Victor Cardenas, City Manager, Novi, MI
• Adrienne Wise, International Keynoter, CEO, WiseChoice Counseling and Consulting
• Michelle Kobayashi, Principal Research Strategist, Polco
• Hosted by Angelica Wedell, Director of Communications, Polco

Sponsored by:

*This webinar is open to members and non-members.  

*The following contact information will be shared with the sponsor: name, title, organization, email, city, state, and zip." 

Welcome to the PSHRA Public Sector HR Essentials Program!

The course is designed to meet the unique needs of the public sector HR professional.

 Do you want to become an IPMA-HR Certified Professional (IPMA-CP)?  

 Look no further as you have come to the right place!

This is a public sector focused credential for qualified HR professionals in an entry-or mid-level career position. 

As a foundational course, the Public Sector HR Essentials Program covers all the major areas of a public sector human resources operation outlined in the following eight modules:

• Public Sector HR Basics
• Recruitment
• Selection
• Classification/Compensation
• Benefits
• Labor and Employee Relations
• Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity
• Organizational Development

Engage with your Classmates:

You are required to comment on at least two of your classmates post for each assignment and attend at least 2 of the 3 Q&A sessions (via Zoom).  The Q&A schedule will be sent to you separately via e-mail.

Please click on the "Course Materials" tab above to download the following materials:

• Course E-book

Provided in a flexible online format, you can expect to complete each module at your pace over a period of 2 weeks (unless marked accelerated). You will benefit from the expertise of top public sector HR professionals who understand the unique issues, challenges and opportunities of human resources in the government environment. 

Upon completing all 8 modules, you will receive a certificate of completion and are one step closer to IPMA-CP certification.

IPMA-CP Certification: Upon conclusion of Module 8, after completing all the exercises and attempting the practice exams, you will automatically receive a certificate of completion.  This does NOT confirm IPMA-CP certification.  At the beginning of the course, an exam declaration was provided to state whether you wish to take the IPMA-CP certification exam.  You will be asked to give acknowledgement at the beginning of the exam, which states the exam is closed book and copyrighted. 

Certification Exam:   The IPMA-CP exam can be accessed as part of your course package under "IPMA-CP Exam".  You must activate your exam with the green "Activate" button as of the last day of the course.  Once activated, your 45 day window to study and take the exam will begin.  Should you let the 45-day period lapse, there will be an additional $100 fee to test (subject to change).  You will login to https://learning.ipma-hr.org to view your exam as you did with your course.

As a foundational course, the Public Sector HR Essentials Program covers all the major areas of a public sector human resources operation outlined in the following eight modules:

Module 1: Public Sector HR Basics

Module 2: Recruitment

Module 3: Selection (Accelerated - 1 week)

Module 4: Classification and Compensation

Module 5: Benefits (Accelerated - 1 week)

Module 6: Labor and Employee Relations

Module 7: Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity

Module 8: Organizational Development (Accelerated - 10 days)

Provided in a flexible online format, you can expect to complete each module at your pace over a period of 2 weeks unless marked as accelerated. You are required to comment on at least two of your classmates post and attend at least 2 of the 3 Q&A Sessions.  You'll benefit from the expertise of top public sector HR professionals who understand the unique issues, challenges and opportunities of human resources in the government environment. 

Accelerated Course Schedule and Syllabus:
(please read this ENTIRE page for important course information and dates)

This course was designed specifically for new Human Resource professionals, or those seeking knowledge of other HR disciplines outside of their normal work assignments. The course will cover all of the major areas within a full-functioning Human Resources operation. The information presented is intended to provide a working understanding of each of the following disciplines:

• Public Sector HR Basics
• Recruitment
• Selection
• Job Classification and Compensation
• Employee Benefits
• Labor and Employee Relations
• EEO and Diversity
• Organizational Development

The course is divided into the eight subject areas, or Modules, listed above.  Where appropriate, we have included cross references to material or information contained in other Modules. This reflects the inter-relatedness of each of the functional disciplines within the HR umbrella. 

Materials used as part of this course include:

At the beginning of each module, we have listed the reading assignment from the Mathis and Johnson textbook, which is the main text for this course. 

 This online course provides a number of benefits to participants:

• Flexibility in completing class assignments on YOUR schedule, with the freedom of location and time of day;
• Opportunity to interact with other HR professionals from around the country;
• Addresses the needs of all types of learners, and those reluctant to speak in groups are drawn more readily into the discussions. 

Engage with your Classmates:

You are required to comment on at least two of your classmates post for each assignment and attend at least 2 of the 3 Q&A sessions (via Zoom).  The Q&A schedule will be sent to you separately via e-mail.

Module 1: Public Sector HR Basics 

(Suggested Study Time: 2 weeks)

This module provides an overview of the HR function in public organizations, and includes:

• Understanding the differences between public and private sector HR operations;
• History of laws that have affected the development of the public sector HR function;
• Review of the major laws and regulations that govern HR operations;
• Roles and responsibilities of HR professionals in organizations;
• Discussion of typical organizational structures;
• Use of Information Technology to enhance HR operations;
• Strategic HR operations;
• Professional HR Organizations;
• Importance of Ethics in HR.

Module 2: Recruitment

(Suggested Study Time: 2 weeks)

• Role of workforce planning;
• Planning and utilizing recruitment strategies;
• Executive recruitment strategies;
• Long term recruitment strategies;
• Importance of background and reference checks;
• Negotiating with selected candidates;
• Importance of evaluating recruitment strategies.

Module 3: Selection

(Suggested Study Time: 1 weeks)

• Selection in the public sector;
• Merit system considerations;
• Typical selection methods;
• Test development and design;
• Test administration considerations;
• Scoring methodologies;
• Use of preference points;
• Use and management of eligible lists;
• Other qualification considerations.

Module 4: Job Classification and Compensation

(Suggested Study Time: 2 weeks)

• Applicable laws and regulations that govern job classification activities;
• Concepts and principles of job classification;
• Job analysis techniques;
• Classification processes;
• Methods for establishing classification relationships;
• Importance of classification strategies to other HR disciplines.

• Translating classification into compensation;
• Pay for performance;
• Executive compensation;
• Importance of compensation strategies to other HR functions. 

Module 5– Employee Benefits:

(Suggested Study Time: 1 weeks)

• Benefits terminology;
• Types, characteristics, and funding of benefits;
• Selection and negotiation with providers;
• Budget and cost control;
• Applicable laws that govern benefit plans;
• Retirement Plans;
• Importance of benefits strategies to other HR functions.

Module 6– Labor and Employee Relations:

(Suggested Study Time: 2 weeks)

• Applicable laws and regulations that govern labor/employee relations activities;
• Bargaining units;
• Collective bargaining models;
• Forms of collective bargaining agreements;
• Work interruptions/stoppages;
• Laws and regulations that affect collective bargaining processes;
• Discipline procedures;
• Grievance administration and arbitration;
• Labor/management relations.

Module 7 – EEO and Diversity:

(Suggested Study Time: 2 weeks)

• Laws that govern EEO and Diversity strategies;
• Regulatory/oversight agencies;
• EEO concepts and employer’s policies;
• EEO Uniform Guidelines and selection policies;
• Discrimination complaints, investigations, and resolution;
• Reasonable accommodations;
• EEO reports and monitoring;
• Importance of diversity programs to other HR functions.

Module 8 – Organizational Development:

(Suggested Study Time: 10 days)

• Organizational culture and change strategies;
• Employee development;
• Performance management;
• Progressive discipline and counseling and coaching;
• Application of organizational development strategies to succession planning.

Expected Course Completion Date: December 19, 2023.

Please note: Your IPMA-CP exam must be activated prior to December 19, 2023.

IPMA-CP Certification Exam:

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to download your certificate of completion after finishing Module 8.  The certificate of completion is not your official certification credential.  Passing the IPMA-CP certification examination is required to become IPMA-CP certified.   

The IPMA-CP certification exam is included as part of the course package-2nd item.  The exam is administered online in this platform.   When you are finished with the course (required) and ready to take the exam, there is a green "Activate" button to click on. Only click on the green "Activate Button" when you are ready to activate the 45-day window. 

Maintaining a safe workplace is not as easy as it looks. Learn how to establish a safety plan, provide healthy workspaces, and learn about the challenges faced by those who are tasked with this important responsibility.  

Please join your risk management and safety peers as they discuss Maintaining Workplace Safety on Thursday, August 31^st at 1:00 pm EDT.

Speakers:

• Pamela J. Kershaw, Director of Human Resources & Risk Management, City of Coconut Creek, FL (Moderator)
• Eric Cloudt, Director, Safety & Environmental Health, San Antonio Water System, TX
• Laurel Diver, Manager of Human Resources & Risk Management, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Libertyville, IL
• Michelle L. Ducre, Director of Human Resources/Risk Management, City of Joplin, MO
• Robert Warren, Manager, Risk and Safety, Trinity River Authority of Texas, Arlington, TX

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

Please join us for an interactive presentation on change where you will be given 6 simple steps to help you prepare for the changing workplace.

This interactive webinar will focus on post-pandemic changes that include:

•          Hybrid work environments

•          High levels of employee turnover

•          Concerns with employee satisfaction and engagement

Change is part of every agency. Unfortunately, change is hard for almost everyone. When not done correctly, change increases levels of worry, fear, and uncertainty.

However, when HR leaders strategically plan and prepare for the hard side of change, there can be improved communication, increased productivity, reduced stress, and improved decision making.  This webinar will provide Six Strategic Steps for planning and preparing for change.  Participants will receive a call to action to develop a plan to overcome employees’ resistance to change.

To learn more, please join us on August 24th at 1:00 pm EDT.

Speaker:  

Dr. Kelly D. Drummond, SHRM-CP, PHR, CPC, CEQ-I 2.0

HR Director with the City of Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee

Dr. Drummond will also be speaking at the 2023 PSHRA Conference and her presentation is titled "Lessons Learned to Sustain HR Professionals" (Wednesday, October 4th).

(For National PSHRA Members Only)

Do you have a difficult and important conversation that you have put off or don’t know how to get started? This workshop will introduce the GROW model of coaching that can result in higher levels of leadership effectiveness, trust, & commitment that supports the organization’s objectives. You will learn how to apply the GROW Coaching Model, walk away with resources, and skills to confidently have that difficult and important conversation and ways to build a coaching culture with your team.  Please join us on Monday, July 31st at 1:00 pm to learn more.

Speaker:  Dr. Bernadette Costello, Managing Partner, BCC Consulting

(For National PSHRA Members Only)