HR connections
HR CONNECTIONS
No matter how big or small a company is , one thing is for sure — there are going to be Human Resources ( HR ) issues to face . VHEDC is proud to support a program that provides the information and resources companies need to stay up to date with the latest trends .
HR Connections is a group through which HR professionals from throughout the Northeast Metro and beyond can network with their peers , grow their knowledge base and learn how other companies handle similar situations . Joy Vander Heiden , Human Resources Manager at Ehlers , a public finance company based in Roseville , has been involved with HR Connections from the very start , and says she is proud of the wonderful resource the program has become .
“ We wanted to get HR partners from throughout the Northeast Metro together to share ideas and brainstorm with each other in a safe space , confidentially , and we all just learn so much from each other ,” she said .
Developed in 2016 by Cindy O ’ Donovan , owner of Right4 Your Business , over 40 program sessions have been held , featuring a number of topics , speakers , and presentations . The group has grown to include 50 participants , representing over 30 local employers and nonprofit organizations . A steering committee comprised of HR practitioners plans the programs .
Standard interest topics include recruitment and retention , orientation and onboarding , training and development , changes in employment law , and trends in compensation and benefits .
Add to that the diverse work styles , preferences , and needs of different generations in the shrinking workforce . Examples include new college grads paying off student loans , parents finding affordable childcare , varying school and after-school activity schedules , and families with multi-generational or endof-life caregiving needs .
The pandemic brought critical new topics and new ways of working that are still evolving to encompass remote work and changing technologies . A session in 2022 presented by legal counsel from USI ( a VHEDC Investor Partner ), which addressed the topic of “ COVID- 19 : Vaccination Considerations in a Post OSHA ETS ( Emergency Temporary Standard ) World ” was quite timely and very helpful .
Another favorite was the kick-off to “ Recruitment & Retention in the Great Resignation ,” with Deb Broberg of RealTimeTalent and author and “ Planet Work ” LinkedIn Live presenter , Cat Breet . This was followed up by a brainstorming round table session with Graphic Recorder Nelle Rhicard of Reframe Ideas , who created a 4 x 8 foot visual of three essential components identified by the participants : Building Talent Pipelines , Start to Finish , Onboarding – what it is , what it is not , and Retention & Engagement – One size does not fit all .
22 Northeast Metro Business