How do you keep a group of sixty or so HR professionals completely engaged (dare I say entertained) in a discussion on workplace investigations? The answer is…you invite Glen Kraemer , Partner at Curiale, Hirschfeld, Kraemer, LLP, to deliver the presentation. I had the good fortune yesterday to attend the Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) – District 7 (Long Beach and Palos Verdes Peninsula areas, CA) monthly networking luncheon where Glen was the featured speaker.
For those unfamiliar with PIHRA, it is the Southern California affiliate of SHRM.
Right from the start, Glen captivated the attendees with his “Reducing Liability Through Proper Investigations” presentation. His use of a real client scenario (naturally, the client name and other identifiers were kept confidential) as the framework for his presentation made the material relevant to the group of HR professionals, many of whom constantly nodded their heads in agreement with his points on what to do and not do when preparing and conducting workplace investigations. With his, “yes, I’ve been there too” perspective, the audience didn’t need to be convinced that this was information that they needed to know to protect their organizations, employees, and themselves from legal liability. His engaging facilitation style kept all eyes on him and Blackberry’s packed away.
His case study walked through a systematic approach for conducting a fair and complete investigation - an absolutely necessity for keeping organizations and individuals out of court not to mention protecting a company’s reputation as an employer of choice. As a recruiting consultant, I’ve seen first hand how challenging it is to attract top talent when a company’s image has been impacted by negative perceptions in the marketplace. Savvy businesses realize that solid employee relations practices are an important driver to recruiting results.
If you want to see one of Glenn’s presentations, you are in luck. He mentioned that he will be leading a session at the SHRM conference in San Diego in June.
Before Glen’s presentation, Michele Patterson, Esq. delivered the legislative update which I understand she does at every meeting. Her helpful handout underscored important recent news on the federal Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act and the COBRA subsidy extension among other things.
It was a treat to meet Golnaz Montagne (Programs Chair) and Michele Wierschem (District Chair) who personally welcomed all members and guests which yesterday included Rafael Rivera, PIHRA Executive Director. Even though this was my first time attending a District 7 event, their welcome made me feel like a long-time member. If you are in the area on future District 7 meeting dates, I’d encourage you to make the effort to attend. The topic was spot-on for HR practitioners, parking was easy and free, the food was really good, and the company was tops.
Thanks District 7!
