Your Cart (0)Certificate in Public Sector HR Management
As an HR professional in a public sector organization, you face many human resource challenges not encountered by your private sector colleagues-privacy, First Amendment and other constitutionals issues, as well as unique discipline, termination, compensation, and unionization issues, just to name a few. That is why Council, in association with The George Washington University, is presenting this comprehensive 4-day program tailored to public sector HR professionals to ensure that you have a firm grasp of both the HR management best practices and the employment laws impacting public sector employers.
This outstanding seminar covers the following topics:
- Employment Laws and How They Impact Public Sector Human Resource Management: These 11 modules will provide you with in-depth coverage of the critical employment law issues impacting public sector HR professionals and tools to tackle the challenging legal issues that impact your daily responsibilities.
- Public Sector Human Resource Management Best Practices: These 8 modules will provide comprehensive coverage of every aspect of public sector human resource management. You will discover HR best practices and apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios in the public sector workplace.
- Becoming a Value-Adding Partner in Your Public Sector Organization: The final 2 modules of the program will provide you with cutting-edge HR trends in the public sector. In the culminating activity, you will have an opportunity to design and implement a strategic HR plan as you apply your newfound knowledge and skills to a case study of a public sector organization faced with difficult challenges.
| The Certificate in Public Sector HR Management program is approved for 24 credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). |  |
The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.
No events scheduled.
Agenda
Part I: Employment Laws and How They Impact Public Sector Human Resource Management
8:00 am: Registration
8:30 am: Moderator's welcome and delegate introductions
8:35 am
Interviewing and Hiring: Keeping Your Recruitment Strategies Legal
12:30: Lunch
1:30 pm
Workplace Violence and Security Concerns: Maintaining a Safe and Secure Work Environment
Labor Law and Unions: The Impact of Unions on Public Sector Organizations
4:00 pm: Day 1 Concludes
Day 2
8:00 am: Refreshments and networking
12:30 pm: Lunch
Discipline and Termination: Avoiding Wrongful Discharge Liability in the Public Sector Workplace
4:00 pm: Day 2 Concludes
Day 3
Part II: Public Sector Human Resource Management Best Practices
8:00 am - 8:30 am: Refreshments and networking
Performance Management: Developing a Program that Maximizes Employee Performance
12:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm
Retention and Motivation: Improving Morale and Achieving Dramatic Turnover Reduction
4:00 pm: Day 3 Concludes
Day 4
8:00 am - 8:30 am: Refreshments and networking
HR and Technology: Ensuring that Your HR Function Is Leading Edge
Leadership and Ethics: Becoming an Effective Leader Through the Use of Ethical Leadership Techniques
12:30 - 1:30 pm: Lunch
Part III: Becoming a Value-Adding Partner Within Your Public Sector Organization
1:30 pm
Metrics in Public Sector HR: Using Metrics to Ensure HR's Place at the Executive Table
HR as a Strategic Partner: Making Critical Contributions to Your Organization's Strategic Plan
4:00 pm: Program Concludes
8:35 am
Interviewing and Hiring: Keeping Your Recruitment Strategies Legal
- Ensuring that all of your recruitment strategies are nondiscriminatory
- Examining the legal issues impacting immigrants in your workforce
- Understanding the emerging legal issues related to Internet recruiting and other hiring technologies
- Identifying which questions you may and may not ask when conducting an employment interview
- Negligent hiring and how to prevent its disastrous consequences
- Conducting reference, credit and background checks while complying with the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Avoiding hidden liability traps when implementing preemployment testing, substance testing, medical evaluations, and other applicant screening devices
- Protecting yourself from lawsuits when employing a contingent workforce
- Legal issues raised by residency requirements
Wage and Hour Laws: Mastering the Essentials of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Unique Public Sector Wage and Hour Issues
- Avoiding the legal landmines in handling public sector wage and hour issues
- Ensuring that your workforce can pass the exempt vs. nonexempt test
- Deciphering the revised FLSA "white collar" exemptions
- Ensuring that your employee classifications don't run afoul of the Davis-Bacon Act
- Dealing with special FLSA exemptions for specific public sector employment positions
- Complying with wage and hour laws when compensating employees on-call
- Examining the Supreme Court decision allowing public sector employers to force the use of accrued compensatory time
- When is it permissible for collective bargaining agreements to fix the amount of overtime compensation?
- Classifying independent contractors vs. employees
- Knowing what to look for in Department of Labor audits and investigations
- Implementing policies and practices to avoid costly pay calculation errors
- Avoiding legal perils when handling garnishments, levies, and child support
- Recent trends in state wage and hour laws: How some state laws are diverging from the FLSA
Privacy and Confidentiality: Protecting Your Public Sector Employees' Rights to Privacy and Confidentiality
- Understanding employee privacy rights in the public sector workplace
- Examining new HIPAA regulations regarding confidentiality of medical records
- What are your responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act regarding release of confidential information by government entities?
- Confidentiality concerns and implementing appropriate discipline practices for violation of confidentiality
- Monitoring computers, phone calls, and e-mails and searching lockers and offices without violating the law
- Complying with federal law restricting the use of polygraphs
- Drafting policies for managing Internet access to deter inappropriate usage by employees at work
- Handling third-party access to personnel files, requests for information, and subpoenas of documents
- Avoiding defamation claims when responding to reference requests
- Drug and alcohol policies and practices that comply with the law
Constitutional and Other Protections in the Public Sector: Whistleblowing, First Amendment Issues, Eleventh Amendment Immunity, and More
- Whistleblowing and the right to speak out: Understanding the federal and state constitutional issues
- Examining court cases addressing freedom of speech in the public sector workplace
- Religious accommodations: Understanding the constitutional issues under the Establishment Clause and the First Amendment
- How far does qualified immunity go to protect managers from individual liability: What statutes will allow employees to sue you personally?
- Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity: How the courts define "state" and determining whether a public entity is an "arm of the state"
1:30 pm
Workplace Violence and Security Concerns: Maintaining a Safe and Secure Work Environment
- Identifying the unique challenges for public sector employers and defining their potential liability in cases of workplace violence
- Detecting the red flags that indicate the potential for anger to result in workplace violence
- Using mediation and conflict resolution to work through hostility
- Strategies for preventing "employee sabotage"
- Responding to threats of workplace violence
- Implementing a Workplace Violence Policy that complies with the law and protects your organization
- What issues your workplace should be considering in light of the recent terrorist attacks and other emerging threats of violence: Security concerns, emergency response, crisis management, and more
Labor Law and Unions: The Impact of Unions on Public Sector Organizations
- An overview of unionization in the public sector: Examining the unique legal issues that arise in monitoring public sector labor relations
- Understanding the political process relating to public sector labor unions
- Examining collective bargaining trends in the public sector union environment
- Tips on negotiating union contracts and relationship building
- Striking: What are the rights of public sector employees?
- Clarification on the rights of union and nonunion employees to have a representative present during investigatory interviews
- What are the rights of nonunion employees regarding discussion of salary?
- Techniques for avoiding unionization in public sector organizations
8:30 am
Discrimination and Retaliation: Avoiding Discrimination and Retaliation Liabilities by Establishing Preventive Practices
- Getting clarification on federal employment discrimination laws
- How the Supreme Court has made it a lot easier for employees to prove discrimination
- The latest Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) developments
- EEOC Compliance Manual section on compensation discrimination
- How you can avoid a discrimination complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Preventing liability for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- National origin discrimination and "English only" policies: Why EEOC complaints have tripled
- Examining decisions addressing pregnancy discrimination
- Analyzing the reasons why courts have ruled in favor of plaintiffs in retaliation claims brought under Title VII, ADEA, and ADA
- Developing strong antiretaliation policies and practices
Affirmative Action and Diversity: Ensuring that Your Organization's Policies and Practices Are In Compliance
- Ensuring that your Affirmative Action Plan has all of the necessary ingredients
- Differentiating between affirmative action and reverse discrimination: Continuing objections to affirmative action plans for preferential hiring and promotions
- Understanding your affirmative action obligations for federal contractors pursuant to Executive Order 11246 and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP)
- Developing a successful diversity recruitment strategy without violating Title VII
- Tips on managing a more diverse workforce
Workplace Harassment and Internal Investigations: Protecting Your Organization by Conducting Timely, Thorough, and Lawful Investigations
- Analyzing key court cases defining unlawful harassment
- Drafting and implementing policies to prevent harassment in the workplace: Extending sexual harassment prevention measures to cover all forms of unlawful harassment
- How to respond effectively to a harassment complaint or suspected improper behavior
- Taking the critical steps necessary to ensure liability-free results from your workplace investigations
- Tips for effectively interviewing witnesses
- Asserting an affirmative defense to a claim of sexual harassment
1:30 pm
Leave and Absence Issues: Complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Other Overlapping Laws
- Understanding the requirements of the FMLA: Which employees are eligible and what conditions require leave to be granted?
- Examining recent court cases that continue to expand the definition of "serious health condition" under the FMLA
- How recent FMLA and ADA Supreme Court decisions impact employer rights and responsibilities
- Practical FMLA guidance on employer and employee notification requirements
- Managing the headaches of intermittent leave: Decisions regarding medical necessity, leave increments, reduced schedules, transfers, and more
- Untangling the confusing overlap of workers' compensation, FMLA, ADA, and other leave laws
- Protecting yourself from individual liability for violations of the FMLA
- What are your employees' mandatory leave rights? Voting, jury duty, and military service explained
- Interactive Exercise: Applying your knowledge to the most confusing and complicated leave and absence cases you are likely to face
Discipline and Termination: Avoiding Wrongful Discharge Liability in the Public Sector Workplace
- Loudermill hearing
- Defining public sector employees' rights to due process
- Ensuring that your grievance policies and procedures are legal
- Understanding how merit system and civil service laws impact your discipline and termination policies
- Training your managers to comply with policies and the law
- A roadmap of essential steps for lawful terminations
- Disciplining and terminating employees with injuries and illnesses without violating the ADA, FMLA, and workers' compensation laws
- Lawfully terminating during periods of layoffs and RIFs
8:30 am
Recruiting in the Public Sector: State of the Art Techniques to Ensure that Your Staffing Requirements Are Met
- Selling your organization as the employer of choice by developing your "brand" name and promoting your unique assets
- Using key employment trends to align your recruiting strategy with the goals and objectives of your organization
- Increasing your understanding of Internet recruiting and incorporating appropriate online methods into your recruitment strategy
- Assimilating state-of-the-art online tools to expand your recruitment portfolio
- Enhancing your organization's Web site by using state-of-the-art techniques to attract the best candidates
- Finding and recruiting "passive" job seekers via proactive Web-based recruiting techniques
- Adopting computerized resume scanning tools to manage large numbers of resumes
- Developing successful best practice recruiting strategies to attract private and public employees to your organization
- Avoiding inefficiencies in cost and time by applying the most effective recruiting methods for each unique position and skill level
- Utilizing aggressive competitive hiring strategies to recruit high-tech talent
- Developing cost-effective and successful partnerships with colleges and universities to recruit highly skilled candidates
- Determining if alternative staffing resources are right for your organization
- Developing competency-based interviewing techniques to select the best qualified candidate
- Interactive Exercise: Using needed knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop competency-based interview questions to select the best-qualified candidate
- Identifying the Best Web Sites for Public Sector Employers and Using Niche Sites to Target Specific Skills
Compensation and Benefits: Implementing Salary and Benefits Programs that Meet Employees' Needs and Fit Your Organization's Budget
- Determining what today's public sector employees are seeking in pay and benefits
- Considering current trends in compensation and benefits to determine what best addresses your organization's needs and satisfies your employees
- Developing systematic and effective pay programs to recruit and retain productive employees
- Considering the plusses and minuses of broadbanding to determine if it is the right tool for your organization
- Determining if variable based pay plans such as performance-, skill-, or competency-based pay incentives are right for your public sector organization
- Successfully implementing variable pay practices to ensure employee buy-in
- Comparing your benefit plans with the private sector and determining how to adopt family-friendly plans in your public sector organization
- Considering the strengths and weaknesses of various health and retirement benefit plans and determining their suitability for the public sector
- Assessing the applicability of emerging trends in employee benefits for your organization
- Interactive Exercise: Developing the best performance incentive system to address performance problems
Performance Management: Developing a Program that Maximizes Employee Performance
- Rethinking the traditional performance appraisal process
- Developing and implementing a successful and measurable performance management system that suits your culture and objectively assesses your employees
- Designing programs that are legal, effective, consistent, and flexible
- Showing managers how performance management can be an effective tool instead of an unpleasant burden
- Training managers to develop and use job descriptions as the building blocks for performance management
- Training managers to prepare and conduct stress-free, effective performance appraisals that provide meaningful feedback and set goals
- Understanding the pros and cons of 360 degree or multi-rater feedback to determine if this process is right for your organization
- Measuring the effectiveness of your performance management program
1:30 pm
Retention and Motivation: Improving Morale and Achieving Dramatic Turnover Reduction
- Developing employee surveys to identify the values and concerns of your employees
- Using quantitative and qualitative measurement techniques to assess the root causes of employee turnover in the public sector
- Developing appropriate exit interview strategies to monitor and address causes of turnover
- Assessing and implementing various strategies to meet the needs of a diverse 21st century workforce
- Identifying which best practices to use in developing a retention culture that will promote employee loyalty
- Anticipating employee concerns in order to keep morale high during times of change
- Developing "family friendly" work policies to retain and motivate employees
- Interactive Exercise: Develop appropriate questions for an employee survey to discern the needs of your agency's employees
Training and Development: Innovative Initiatives that Promote Employee Success and Increase Productivity
- Developing training objectives and applying cost-effective solutions to public sector training challenges
- Designing and developing effective training programs using appropriate needs assessments and objective evaluations
- Successfully assimilating new employees into the organization through effective, timely, and cost-effective orientation programs
- Using mentoring, counseling, and coaching strategies to create and develop successful employees
- Determining which of the emerging trends (computer-based training, video conferencing, etc.) are best for your public sector organization
- Preparing your organization for the future by designing an effective succession planning program
8:30 am
Employee Relations: Proactive Strategies to Reduce Conflict, Increase Productivity, and Avoid Grievances
- Resolving conflict by implementing proactive strategies that channel conflict into positive problem-solving approaches
- Using grievance procedures and open-door policies to aggressively address and investigate complaints before they become major morale busters
- Developing and implementing legally compliant and effective progressive disciplinary procedures
- Identifying various alternative dispute resolution procedures and determining how they can work successfully in your organization
- Understanding the differences between mediation and arbitration, and preparing for their hearings
- Proactively addressing personality-based workplace disruptions and calming employee annoyances, anger, and hostility: Techniques for communicating with difficult employees and dealing with negativity
- Techniques for dealing with workplace negativity and communicating with difficult employees
- Effectively utilizing your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or other resources to help address more complex employee problems
- Interactive Exercise: Using case studies and role-play counseling sessions designed to improve performance and resolve employee conflict
HR and Technology: Ensuring that Your HR Function Is Leading Edge
- Update on emerging technological HR trends and determining their benefit to your organization
- Developing procedures to effectively manage telecommuting employees
- Learning how to select the best Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) to meet your organization's needs before you request the funding
- Becoming skilled in the benefits of using web-based services to aid your public sector HR function
- Using the Internet as a strategic resource tool to enhance the value of the HR department in your organization
Leadership and Ethics: Becoming an Effective Leader Through the Use of Ethical Leadership Techniques
- Learning from the best: How do you become an effective leader?
- Developing your leadership competencies through problem solving, creative thinking, project management, mentoring, and change management
- Understanding leadership responsibilities and assessing your leadership potential
- Examining your personal code of ethics: Will your code and your organization's code stand up to public scrutiny?
- Assessing if you are ready to become a leader: Can you set the tone, shape the climate, and define the standard in your organization?
- Interactive Exercise: Use real-life situations taken from the public sector to determine how you would react when presented with ethical dilemmas
1:30 pm
Metrics in Public Sector HR: Using Metrics to Ensure HR's Place at the Executive Table
- Understanding why metrics are so critical to demonstrating Human Resource's contribution to the success of your public sector organization
- Using various metrics to measure both financial and non-financial performance: Hire costs and rates, churn rates, safety, compensation and benefits, training, performance management, etc.
HR as a Strategic Partner: Making Critical Contributions to Your Organization's Strategic Plan
- Understanding HR's role in today's workplace: Challenge, opportunity, and responsibility
- Aligning your HR department with your organization's goals to assure that the goals and objectives are met
- Using workforce planning and workforce development to successfully meet your organization's future goals, skills, and abilities
- Creating a workforce development plan that will win support
- How your HR competencies add value to your organization
- Developing best management practices in HR to contribute to the financial success of your organization
- Communicating HR's strategic impact to your management team: Putting the data into context for management review
- Wind-up Interactive Exercise: Use a public agency's employment crisis to design and develop a strategic plan, obtain management buy-in, and develop the steps needed to implement the plan