ASHHRA eNews Pulse

Hello ASHHRA Members,

While driving past highway construction projects, I've occasionally seen signs that say 'Your Tax Dollars at Work!'  I realize people react differently to those kinds of signs, but I tend to like them; they remind me that 1) a lot goes on behind the scenes, as it were, to move things forward [highway design, construction planning, etc.], 2)  I'm connected inasmuch as I helped fund it and, 3) in the end, collectively I'm part of a much bigger 'thing' than myself that results in concrete (no pun intended) changes.

Your ASHHRA Advocacy Committee travels to Washington, D.C., to collaborate with others in influencing the future direction of our country.  Imagine a sign that says 'Your ASHHRA membership dues at work!'  I like that, too. The committee reminds me that a lot goes on behind the scenes; your 10-member committee, chaired by Les Abercrombie, has worked hard all year to prepare for this trip.  They've arranged for specific meetings with key senators and representatives, Congressional staffers and others. They've discussed and decided which initiatives to focus on and developed position papers that will be distributed.  They've been coached on the 'how to' of Congressional visits including crucial follow-up methodology.

The committee helps me realize my membership dues to ASHHRA help fund their trip and that through them I am part of a much larger collective whole, and that we can make a 'concrete' difference.

The committee will be in Washington May 17 and 18 and will focus on ensuring EFCA stays dormant, that the job title 'supervisors' remains solidly a part of management (RESPECT Act) and that local hospitals and  their nurses decide on issues like safe patient handling and patient ratios, versus federal government mandates.

The committee also will meet with other advocacy counterparts and allies from the AHA and SHRM as ASHHRA continues a strong collaboration and cooperation on key human resource issues. Wish them well as they work hard representing you and me and our profession.  Look for a Webinar later in the year in which they will detail their visit and key legislative issues facing us.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the Advocacy Committee, feel free to reach out to ASHHRA Executive Director Stephanie Drake at sdrake@aha.com. 
 
 
Jeff Payne, SPHR
Vice President, Human Resources
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
1324 Lakeland Hills Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33805-4500
863-687-1045
863-284-1971 (fax)

 

If you are new to the health care profession or new to HR (with less than five years of experience), ASHHRA has resources that will put you on the path to HR leadership.

Visit http://www.ashhra.org/ashhra/learning/new_to_the_profession.html to view the full article online.

 

On Tuesday, May 25 at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT, 11 a.m. MT, 10 a.m. PT, this Webinar will focus on the significant staff shortage that health care HR leaders will encounter as the baby boomer generation shifts into retirement. If you are interested in bringing practical workforce solutions to your CEOs, you cannot afford to miss this Webinar presentation.

Visit http://www.ashhra.org/ashhra/learning/webinars.html to view the full article online.

 

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced plans for "Plan/Prevent/Protect," a new strategy to increase employment law compliance. Highlighted in the DOL's spring 2010 Regulatory Agenda, the new strategy would place the burden of compliance on employers rather than having government agencies responsible for "catching" violators.

Visit http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/HR-Administration/Employment-Laws-Regulations/Possible-Changes-to-DOL-Enforcement-Strategy/ to view the full article online.

 

The Supreme Court is mulling a case that could determine how far companies can go in writing policies to control employees' use of work-issued communications devices.

Visit http://www.hrmorning.com/just-how-closely-can-you-monitor-employee-communications/ to view the full article online.

 

As a nation, we are in the midst of an ongoing struggle to provide universal, equitable access to quality, cost-effective care for an increasingly diverse and aging population. We are facing the potential of major shortages of nurses and other skilled health professionals. And there is concern about who will replace highly skilled health care workers if they retire in their 50s and 60s.

As the nation grapples with these challenges, several new occupations are emerging that have the potential to keep people healthier and lower costs. Many of these emerging jobs can be designed to appeal to boomers in search of encore careers, and filling them with older, experienced employees can benefit patient care. This paper examines six such new occupations identified by a panel of national experts in workforce and health care issues.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/ahh-nwl/pdf/JobsHealthPaper.pdf to view the full article online.

 

There are many theories on how to correctly "onboard" someone to an organization or a team. Most focus on how to provide the new hire with the information and skills she needs to succeed. But that can only take her so far. She will need connections and an understanding of the inner workings and culture of your company to be truly successful. Whether she is transitioning from another part of the organization or is brand new, you can get her up to speed more quickly by going beyond the basics and explaining how things actually get done.

Visit http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2010/04/make-your-new-hire-immediately.html to view the full article online.

 

Boards of directors must consider myriad corporate strategic concerns as well as increased federal regulation and public scrutiny over executive compensation and disclosure practices. Thus today's directors find themselves adapting to a business landscape focused on risk and how that risk affects future strategy. Boards must balance caution with not hindering growth.

Visit http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/08/risk-compensation-balance-leadership-governance-directorship.html?boxes=leadershipchanneldirectorship to view the full article online.

 

As businesses strive to stay competitive in a global marketplace, they must adjust their talent management strategies accordingly, including how they approach training, says consultant Dominic Cottone. For example, Cottone expects that employers will identify opportunities for employees to learn more—and be more proactive—about health and wellness, including ways to manage stress.

Visit http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Staffing-Training/Employee-Manager-Training/Corporate-Training-Trends-to-Watch-for-in-the-Comi/ to view the full article online.

 

So here's the paradox: Americans are working 10 percent fewer total hours than they did before the recession, due to layoffs and shortened workdays, but we're producing nearly as many goods and services as we did back in the full employment days of 2007.

Visit http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/05/the_productivity_myth.html to view the full article online.

 

According to a recent Wells Fargo/Boston Research study, most employers (61 percent) plan to tinker with their retirement plans in the next 18 months. Want to know what they're doing — and why? Read on.

Visit http://www.hrmorning.com/changes-coming-to-employer-retirement-plans/ to view the full article online.

 

A national survey by financial firm ING found that most Americans believe that the private retirement savings system is not "broken," and those in an employer-provided 401(k)-type retirement plan are more confident, informed and proactive when it came to their savings than those without a workplace plan. Still, employees would like to receive more employer support to help them make better-informed decisions about retirement savings.

Visit http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/benefits/Articles/Pages/DoMore.aspx to view the full article online.

 

The new Vital Health Report, released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, shows that Americans associate good health with lifestyle behaviors and habits but overlook their key vital health measures, such as cholesterol, body mass index, blood pressure and disease screenings.

Visit http://news.nurse.com/article/20100507/ALL01/105170003/-1/frontpage to view the full article online.

 

Anyone who has worked for more than a day has made a mistake. While most people accept that slip-ups are unavoidable, no one likes to be responsible for them. The good news is that mistakes, even big ones, don't have to leave a permanent mark on your career. In fact, most contribute to organizational and personal learning; they are an essential part of experimentation and a prerequisite for innovation. So don't worry: if you've made a mistake at work, — and, again, who hasn't? — you can recover gracefully and use the experience to learn and grow.

Visit http://blogs.hbr.org/hmu/2010/04/youve-made-a-mistake-now-what.html to view the full article online.

 

The disruption to world travel and commerce by an Icelandic volcano is just the latest indicator of why companies must have alternate strategies.

Visit http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2010/ca2010057_992978.htm to view the full article online.