News

#SODAK20 Planned for August 5-7

Plans are still underway for the 2020 SoDak SHRM State Conference scheduled for Wednesday, August 5 – Friday, August 7, 2020 in Watertown, SD. The conference planning committee has been working closely with the Watertown Event Center, who is following social distancing and CDC guidelines for all meetings and events and taking extra precautions to ensure that guests and Event Center staff are safe. Some of the things you’ll notice as precautionary measures at this year’s conference include:

• Room sizes will be adjusted to accommodate spacing requirements. Chairs will be distanced 6’ apart and tables adjusted accordingly.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be available at the entrances, beverage, food and snack stations.
• All snacks will be single serve or individually wrapped and bottled water will replace water on the tables or water station.
• Buffets will no longer be an option – all meals will be plated.
• Event Center staff will wear gloves when setting beverage/snack stations.
• When an event is finished, and after a room is cleared, staff will use a sanitizing fogger so the space will be clean and ready for the next group and will also be used at the end of each day in common guest areas, bathrooms, and entrance areas.
• Disinfecting spray will be used on entrance touch areas and door handles.
• Attendees are encouraged to wear masks, but at this time, masks are not required.

We know these are uncertain times in our nation and our world, but we hope you’ll consider joining us for this conference as we begin our return to normalcy. Early registration deadline is June 30, 2020 so sign up today at www.sodakshrm.org/conference.

We hope to see you all in August!

COVID-19 Information for Businesses

The Department of Health is reaching out to get information to businesses to assist with mitigation strategies to stop the spread of COVID-19. The information includes:

1. Updated guidance from CDC and OSHA about safe practices
2. Employee screening tools – if businesses have not already implemented an employee screening process, it is highly recommended they do so. Employees who fail the screening process, should be sent home and follow the steps on the document “Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 if you are sick”; and
3. General information/signage for businesses.

As always, there is a host of information available on the covid.sd.gov website as well as the CDC website, including materials in other languages. If businesses have not already done so, the DOH would also encourage them to reach out to any national associations that might have information specific to their industry.

GUIDANCES

• Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19
• Prepare your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19 / Top 10 Tips to Protect Employees’ Health
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

EMPLOYEE SCREENING TOOLS

• Symptom Checker
• Daily Screening Log
• Prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick (to be used if employee is sent home)

GENERAL INFORMATION/SIGNAGE

• Stop the Spread of Germs
• Symptoms of COVID-19
• Handwashing
• Stay home if you are sick
• What Should I Do? Infographic
• How to protect yourself and others

HR Professionals of the Year

SESHRM recognizes local HR professionals annually who have made significant contributions to the field of Human Resource Management and represent "the best" in the Human Resources profession. They are strategic business partners, individuals, businesses or organizations who serve as role models for the profession, who are leaders rather than followers, who set standards for others and the profession, and who apply their professional expertise outside of their organizations. Congratulations to our most recent recipients below!

Distinguished HR Professional of the Year

Dan Oakland, Alternative HRD

Emerging HR Professional of the Year

Krysta Widman, Gage Brothers

Previous Distinguished Recipients:

• Rachell Henning, Woods Fuller Shultz & Smith P.C.
• Garrett Wilson, Midcontinent
• Maggie Pearson, RMS Roller-Grinder
• Dawn Uthe, Carsforsale.com
• Julie Waage, RAS
• Carey Deaver, Minnehaha County
• Patsy Kramer, Sanford Health

Previous Emerging Recipients:

• Jessica Bickett, Lawrence & Schiller
• Kelsey Hillberg, Sanford Health
• Julia Disburg, Lincoln County
• Karla Lundell, Howalt+McDowell Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency
• Candis Kiihl, Dakotabilities
• Jill Glover, Avera Health
• Reid Holsen, City of Sioux Falls

Workplace Excellence Awards

The prestigious SESHRM Workplace Excellence Award is to acknowledge those companies that have made significant strides in employee practices to establish a highly desirable work environment and to recognize them for their leadership, culture and best practices. These companies are family-friendly with a dedicated workforce consistently portraying a strong culture of empowerment and growth. The award is presented every year at the SD Safety and Health Conference in October to selected employers displaying the following qualities:

• Friendly culture
  
• Great work/life balance
  
• Innovative communication techniques
  
• Consistently recognizes those who go “above and beyond”
  
• Empowers team members with personal and professional development skills
  

If you have any questions please contact our Awards & Recognition Director on our Board Members page. Congratulations to our most recent recipients below!

Small Company ( < 100 employees)

RMS Roller-Grinder

Medium Company (101-500 employees)

Carsforsale.com

Large Company ( > 500 employees)

Interstates

Previous Recipients (Small Company):

• Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith

• Weisser Distributing
  
• RMS Roller-Grinder
  
• Howalt+McDowell Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency
  
• Service First Federal Credit Union
  
• Click Rain
  
• Interstate Control Systems
  

Previous Recipients (Medium Company):

• Weisser Distributing
• Carsforsale.com
• Lloyd Companies
• Carsforsale.com
• Gage Brothers
  
• Wow! Internet, Cable, & Phone
  
• Children's Care Hospital & School

Previous Recipients (Large Company):

• POET
• First Premier / Premier Bankcard
• Avera McKennan
• Midcontinent Communications
  
• Capital One
  
• Sammons Financial Group

2019 SESHRM Salary Survey

If you would like to purchase a copy of our 2019 survey results please click HERE. Thank you to all of our sponsors for making this survey possible!

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Erin Walstead Receives Student Chapter SESHRM Scholarship

SESHRM Scholarship Program

In recognition of the need for skilled Human Resources professionals to support the workforce within the region of Sioux Falls, the Sioux Empire Society for Human Resource Management (SESHRM) will award one (1) $1,000 scholarship per academic year to an eligible undergraduate student recipient meeting the following eligibility requirements. Should no eligible applicants apply in a year, the award will not be given.

ELIGIBILITY

• Current SHRM national student member (which includes membership to student SESHRM #5496) or have submitted application at the time of this scholarship application with proof of membership prior to awarding of scholarship
• Enrolled in an accredited degree-seeking undergraduate program
• Degree program is HR-related (i.e., Business, Psychology, Human Resources, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, etc.)
• Cumulative GPA is 3.0 or above
• Applicant may only be awarded the scholarship once per lifetime

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submit a written application to the current SESHRM Student Chapter Board Liaison at siouxempireshrm@gmail.com. Application format should be a Word document or PDF. Please email application materials addressed to the Student Chapter Board Liaison, who will confirm receipt of your application.

Application should include the following:

• Your contact information (full name, address, email)
• 500-word personal essay articulating your interest in HR, financial need, and career goals
• Current Resume
• One professional letter of reference addressed to ‘SESHRM Scholarship Review Committee’ containing information about applicant’s character, ethics, values and experiences. Letter may not come from a family member of applicant and should state context of relationship to applicant (supervisor, professor, mentor, coach, etc.).
• Copy or screen shot of current academic transcript that will show applicant’s name, the name of the institution of higher learning, courses you’ve taken, and grades for each.

Submit application materials by March 1 for the following academic year, defined as August through July. Scholarship recipient will be notified of award status by May. Checks will be sent to the student’s account at their academic institution of higher learning and made payable to that institution on behalf of the student.

SELECTION CRITERIA

All application materials, including your letter(s) of recommendation and personal essay will be reviewed, to assess the following points:

• 30% Commitment to/passion for HR profession
• 25% Career goals and commitment to the state of South Dakota, including applicant’s local chapter
• 25% Academic Achievement
• 20% Financial Need