forward HR

Sp r i n g 202 3 • forwardHR | 5 DIREC TOR 'S MESSAGE W elcome to the spring issue of forwardHR and my first as your state director! "I feel the need…the need for speed." While that's an iconic quote from a movie, we as HR professionals are continually tasked with the need to deliver more with fewer resources. Put on the legal hat, switch to the compliance hat or the disciplinarian hat or the counseling hat. is issue of forwardHR is designed to share tips and tricks and to make the workplace work in our ever-changing world. Judy Kneiszel of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. writes in her article how companies may miss out if their members lack psychological safety in the workplace. Check out her list of benefits that companies will reap if they foster psychological safety, along with a "how to" for managers to achieve this environment. In 2022, Wisconsin State Council SHRM launched the initiative "accommodate in place," which was designed to facilitate conversations between HR professionals and employees experiencing hardships at work. e goal of the initiative is to provide HR professionals with a set of tools to help them design the best solutions to meet the needs of their employees. Would you buy a house without ever walking through it? Or a TV without knowing what it can do? Or a vehicle without test driving it? Jennifer Austin, director of marketing for e Alliance, addresses consumerism and the lack of transparency in health care. Now, more than ever, HR professionals must be agile and make informed health care decisions. SHRM's campaign, "cause the effect," was launched in 2022 and encourages business and HR leaders to boldly bring about the changes they want to see in the world of work. But is it that easy? Attorney Storm B. Larson with BoardmanClark LLP cautions employers to carefully assess all flexible work arrangements. Beth Ridley with Ridley Consulting Group shares how to make work "work" by first understanding the difference between equity and equality. ey sound similar, and at first sight one might think they are one and the same. Beth shares the difference and reveals that "equity is the pathway to true equality." "Remember, no points for second place" is a quote that resonates with all employees and employers. Rick Parks, chief executive officer of Society Insurance, keeps work/life balance and adapting to change a priority. is allowed flexibility when the company needed it most — when the pandemic started. In his article, Parks shares tidbits of Society's success before, during and aer 2020. Wisconsin State Council SHRM's agility and flexibility was apparent in the creation of the Workplace Policy Conference, which was held Feb. 16. Historically, this was our Day on the Hill conference. Instead, we caused the effect and flexed this conference based on what our members wanted and needed. Our mission is, and always will be, to support our 18 local SHRM chapters and HR professionals throughout Wisconsin. A large part of that support comes in the form of professional development. What better way to develop than at a WI SHRM conference of workplace policies? ank you, thank you, thank you to all the volunteer leaders throughout Wisconsin for sharing your time and talents every day to cause the effect. As I launch into my position as state director, I encourage everyone to be agile, to be transparent, to flex as much as possible and to be a maverick in everything you do. Together we can make work work! If you would like more information about Wisconsin State Council SHRM or to find out more about a local chapter in your area, please visit our website at www.wishrm.org. I'll share one last thought by Alan Rickman: "Maverick is a word which appeals to me more than misfit. Maverick is active, misfit is passive." Join me and be a maverick to cause the effect! ■ Connie J. Bitter is Director Compensation & Benefits for Tank Holding Corp. in Oostburg. By Connie J. Bitter, SHRM-CP, PHR, 2023 State Director, Wisconsin State Council SHRM Working forward

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