Human Resources Sessions

Listed below are all the Human Resources sessions at this year's Management Conference. Click on a session's title to read its description. All the Human Resources sessions are associated with a blue-colored box on the conference schedule page.

Note: All regular sessions are 3 CPE credits; all mini sessions are 1 CPE credit. Regular sessions are 3 hours in length, and mini sessions are 1.5 hours in length.

Creating an Effective Employee Handbook
Performance Management: Understanding the Core Elements
Human Resources Risk Management
Conducting an Organizational Assessment
Sage Abra & TimeStar Enterprise User Group
Volunteers and Risk Management
Timesheet to Paycheck
Increasing Employee Engagement to Build Capacity
 HR Review I - Recruitments/Selection, Interviewing, and Job Descriptions
Fraud-Related Responsibilities of Human Resources
HR Review II - FLSA, FMLA, and COBRA
Creating an HR Policies & Procedures Manual
Communicating to Keep Hearts and Win Minds in the 21st Century
Performance Management: Solving People Problems
Compensation: Understanding the Philosophy, Legal Requirements,
and Key Compensation
Human Resource Q&A

Creating an Effective Employee Handbook

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: General Understanding of Federal and State Employment Laws
Field of Study: Human Resources
Time: Tuesday, July 13; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainer: Julia Johnson

An effective employee handbook is an important communication tool as it can promote good employee relations, provide a ready reference for employees and supervisors, encourage consistency in policy administration, and demonstrate compliance with applicable laws. But if prepared improperly, an employee handbook can pose significant legal challenges. Poorly written policies, policies not aligned with company procedure and practice, policies omitting or misrepresenting employment laws, and/or inappropriate policy provisions increase an organization’s risk and exposure. In this session, we will discuss the appropriate format and structure of an employee handbook, how to develop policies and procedures, what should and should not be included in a handbook, and other items typically of greatest concerns to organizations. We will share how Wipfli's Model Human Resources Policies & Procedures Manual (HRPro) for grant-funded organizations can be used as the basis for the development of an effective employee handbook.

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Performance Management: Understanding the Core Elements

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Tuesday, July 13; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainer: Deb Pagel

As leaders in your organization, when you are asked where you spend the majority of your time, what is the answer? Of course, it's on employee issues. In this session we will focus on the core elements of performance management.

Learn the facts about management goal setting and why it's so important in employee interaction. Find out why employees do not do what they are supposed to do and how to change that.

We will discuss performance management as a process including:

  • Fundamentals of coaching
  • Understanding the coaching analysis
  • Conducting the coaching discussion (plus exploring employee defense strategies)
  • Importance of performance appraisal
  • Preparing for the performance appraisal
  • Writing the performance appraisal
  • Conducting the performance appraisal
  • Providing effective feedback
  • Setting performance goals
  • Ensuring ongoing communication

Leave this session understanding how effective performance management can be a simple and achievable formula.

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Human Resources Risk Management

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: RM 1 or a Fraud Session
Field of Study: Management Advisory Services
Time: Wednesday, July 14; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Deb Pagel, Julia Johnson, and Mavis Luther

In this session, participants will examine risk management and human resources concerns in their organization. People can be sources of risk, but also one of the keys to managing risk in your nonprofit. Learn more about risks associated with human resource management and strategies to mitigate them.

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Conducting an Organizational Assessment

Session Type: Regular
Level: Advanced
Prerequisite: Management & Planning Experience
Field of Study: Management Advisory Services
Time: Wednesday, July 14; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Jeff Wulf and Seth Finestack

All organizations deal with constant change, some of it significant. Being able to assess your organization's effectiveness is a proactive strategy to help you manage the impact of change and transition. In this updated session, participants will be introduced to a number of diagnostic and assessment tools and techniques. Understanding your organizational strengths and dealing with your vulnerabilities will allow you to better serve your community.

Specific topics to be addressed include:

  • Introduction to organization truisms.
  • How to assess your organization's readiness for change.
  • Introduction to the Wipfli organizational assessment approach.
  • Understanding and managing organizational transition.
  • Introduction to a number of assessment tools, such as core capability assessment and scenario planning.

This interactive session is designed to provide assessment tools to help you understand where your organization is today - a vital step as you plan for the organization of tomorrow.

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Sage Abra & TimeStar Enterprise User Group

Session Type: Regular
Level: Overview
Prerequisite: Sage Abra and/or TimeStar Knowledge Recommended
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Wednesday, July 14; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainer: Deana Dearry

Come and join your peers for interactive reviews and discussions!

  • See the NEW Sage Abra v10! New look and enhanced functionality.
  • Get new ideas for tracking program information and staying in compliance.
  • Participate in facilitated Question & Answer session with Sage Abra grant-funded program experts and your peers.

We encourage new and advanced Sage Abra users to attend.

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Volunteers and Risk Management

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: Introduction to Risk Management or a Fraud Session
Field of Study: Management Advisory Services
Time: Wednesday, July 14; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainer: Deb Pagel

Non-employee positions such as Boards of Directors and volunteers present their own set of challenges for organizations. Does your organization feel confident that you are recruiting the right skill set for your Board of Directors and other volunteers? Do you have a succession plan in place for these positions? What are the legal risks associated with volunteers? In this new session, we will talk about finding the right skill set to match your organization. We will also look at ways to keep your volunteers engaged and motivated as well as look at some of the legal risks associated with volunteers.

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Timesheet to Paycheck

Session Type: Regular
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Payroll Understanding Recommended
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Thursday, July 15; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainer: Deana Dearry

One of the most important financial responsibilities we have as an organization is to pay our staff. Come to this updated session as we outline together the process from "punch to paycheck". We will explore the Who's, What's and How's of the timesheet to paycheck process and invite attendees to review and discuss some real-world case studies. Attend this session to learn how to:

  • Eliminate or significantly reduce processing costs while increasing efficiency
  • Meet current and future staffing needs
  • Reduce compliance costs and risks
  • Ensure seamless integration of your payroll information and your accounting information
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Increasing Employee Engagement to Build Capacity

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Thursday, July 15; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Seth Finestack and Jeff Wulf

Employee engagement can be defined as your staff's willingness to go above and beyond their assigned duties. Do your employees come to the job every day energized and motivated to achieve your mission? How do you know who does, who doesn't, and who waivers in their commitment? What would you do about it if you did know? Attend this updated session to go beyond measurement, and discover the best practices and effective tactics for making missionaries of your office and field staff. We'll discuss three levels of engaging your entire workforce, and ten areas where a renewed focus might help you capture that creative excitement that was there when your agency first organized.

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HR Review I - Recruitments/Selection, Interviewing, and Job Descriptions

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Thursday, July 15; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Mavis Luther and Julia Johnson

A human resource review is an opportunity for an organization to conduct an in-depth analysis of current human resource practices. The review will help answer the question, “Are your human resource practices helping, hindering, or having little impact on what your organization is trying to accomplish?”

In this session, we will present and discuss a systematic approach to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the human resource function as well as developing comprehensive action plans. We will discuss the following:

  • Recruitment and Employment Practices
  • Recordkeeping
  • Human Resources Policies and Procedures
  • Performance Appraisals
  • Compensation and Benefits
  • Performance Management
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Fraud-Related Responsibilities of Human Resources

Session Type: Regular
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Basic understanding of fraud prevention in HR functions
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge and Applications
Time: Thursday, July 15; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Gerry Zack and Deb Pagel

The Human Resources function plays an integral role in internal controls and fraud deterrence. In this session, we'll explain exactly what those responsibilities are, starting with the hiring process, conducting background checks and weeding out individuals most likely to commit fraud. Next, we'll explore areas where HR can mitigate the risk of fraud after the hiring phase, throughout an employee's tenure with your organization. Finally, we'll explain the important role that HR plays in connection with fraud investigations.

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HR Review II - FLSA, FMLA and COBRA

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Thursday, July 15; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainers: Mavis Luther and Julia Johnson

As we know, employment legislation is changing rapidly and everyone wants to be assured they are in compliance. A human resource review will help organizations see where there is potential risk and what they need to do to limit their liabilities.

  • Discipline and Termination Practices
  • Compliance with Federal guidelines
    • Fair Standards Labor Act (FLSA)
    • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
    • COBRA
    • ADA
  • Training and Development
  • Employment Posters
  • Record Retention
  • Pending Legislation
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Creating an HR Policies & Procedures Manual

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Thursday, July 15; 1:30-5:00 pm
Trainer: Deb Pagel

Most organizations have some form of a policy and procedure manual. They run the gamut from long, detailed, all-inclusive manuals that are not user-friendly to an accumulation of memos and e-mails and sticky notes that never officially make it to a manual. During this session, we’ll leverage Wipfli’s Model Human Resources Policies and Procedures to teach you the components of a functional policies and procedures manual that will ensure compliance with OMB Circulars, Federal and State Regulations. We will take a common sense approach to showing you how to create or update policies and procedures that promote consistency in dealing with employee and organizational matters.

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Communicating to Keep Hearts and Win Minds in the 21st Century

Session Type: Regular
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Management Advisory Services
Time: Friday, July 16; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainers: Seth Finestack and Jeff Wulf

Communicating in the context of today's changes, challenges and tidal wave of messages and media present a huge opportunity for programs to reconnect with critical stakeholders. But it really does take a village. Attend this session to discover how to get a better grasp of effective communication methods, messaging, and measures - to meet your agency's goals. The format of this session will be interactive. Expect small group activities and a work-product to take home from the conference.

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Performance Management: Solving People Problems

Session Type: Regular
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Executive Leadership Experience
Field of Study: Management Advisory Services
Time: Friday, July 16; 8:15-11:45 am
Trainer: Julia Johnson

Leaders in organizations are often called upon to solve any number of people problems, and often, without the benefit of having all the facts or an effective methodology for doing so. The pace at which leaders are asked to move can sometimes cause “premature solution syndrome” which is taking an action on the basis of partial knowledge and/or becoming the owner of a situation that isn't theirs to own simply because of the pressures to get it done. In this highly interactive session, leaders will learn an empowering methodology to assist them in solving people problems. First, lecture to outline tried and true principles and processes. Second, a roll-up-the-sleeves exercise to experience first hand how to apply and witness the resulting effectiveness of these principles. Leaders will leave with a new set of skills to enable them to make an immediate impact back at the organization.

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Compensation: Understanding the Philosophy, Legal Requirements, and Key Compensation

Session Type: Mini
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Basic Compensation Understanding
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Friday, July 16; 8:15-9:50 am
Trainers: Deb Pagel

Have you ever noticed that one of the most discussed, yet private, issues in an organization is compensation? So much is linked to an organization's compensation structure, hiring, promotions, and regulatory compliance.

During this session we will discuss various facets of developing wage comparability studies and designing classification systems including:

  • What are the requirements for compensation in grant-funded programs?
  • What is a Wage Comparability Study?
  • How do you do a Wage Comparability Study?
  • How do you use the Study information to design a Wage Classification System?
  • Do you want to develop both internal equity and external competitive parts of a System?
  • How do you effectively administer a Classification System?
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Human Resource Q&A

Session Type: Mini
Level: Basic
Prerequisite: None
Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Time: Friday, July 16; 10:11-11:45 am
Trainers: Deb Pagel and Mavis Luther

In this session, we'll generate answers to your quetions as they relate to Human Resources. We'll first answer your pre-submitted questions* on the specific topics that are important in your agency. After dedicating time to the pre-submitted questions, the discussion will be opened up for general human resources questions.

* Email your questions in advance to gfpinfo@wipfli.com, subject line: HRQA.

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