Archive for October, 2009

HR Needs a Miracle

by Stephen Geraghty-Harrison – Chapter President

 

Every once in a while you have an opportunity to listen to an incredibly skilled speaker; one whose words inspire you to do more for yourself, your family, your organization.  In a time when unemployment is at 9.8%, its highest percentage in twenty-six years, some motivation would be great, especially for the unemployed.

 

herb_brooksRemember Herb Brooks, the coach of the U.S. hockey team who won a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics against the Soviets?  Maybe you’ve seen a few of Herb’s speeches via Kurt Russell in Disney’s 2004 film, Miracle.  Whether you have or not, his ability to motivate his team against tremendous odds is a great example of what the HR industry needs today.  Where is the Herb Brooks of HR? 

 

I found a great article and video recently that demonstrates the motivational capacity of Herb’s words.  Although the video features then four year old Josh “Rizzo” Sacco, who has watched Miracle nearly 150 times, it still gets the point across.        

 

Tonight, we skate whiff’um! Tonight, we stay whiff’um! And we shut dem down because we CAN!”

 

Some days I feel like I need a shot in the arm to give me a boost to go above and beyond the norm.  Other days I wake up ready to take over the world, especially after reading some thought provoking content by HR bloggers like Ben Eubanks of UpstartHR.  I just wish this feeling was more consistent.  Yes, I realize I control the attitude I bring to the office each day, but it would be great to have someone or something out there that provides continuous inspiration.  Seriously, HR needs a miracle!

 

Who inspires you?  Who is the Herb Brooks of your organization? Of your HR department?  Do you have a team that champions HR?  Is it you?  How is your company reaching out to candidates and keeping them motivated?  Who do they have to look to for motivation in this economic recession?  Please share your thoughts!

 

Photo Credit:  Yahoo! Sports Canada

Share

Mandating Maternity Leave

by Karen Goodlett, SPHR – Certification Guru

 

Photo Credit: Constra Costa Times

I have a new granddaughter and have been fortunate to be able to take a little time away from work to help out my daughter and enjoy being a grandma!   Though I have raised three children and this is my third grandchild, I am always surprised at the amount of time and energy a baby requires. For the past two weeks, my days have revolved around feeding, burping, changing, dressing, rocking, snuggling, and just watching my granddaughter as she begins to become aware of her world. As my daughter isn’t getting much rest at night, I have tried to allow her that time during the day. As she has enjoyed bonding with her daughter, I have delighted in the bonding experience with both my granddaughter and daughter.

 

Realizing last week that holding the baby all the time was likely setting a bad precedent, I actually put her down to sleep and spent some time catching up on my HR reading.  As I am in “grandma mode,” a reading on mandated maternity leave benefits caught my interest.  

 

It was enlightening to see some of the ways that maternity leave is implemented throughout the world. 

 

*Canada offers the mother paid leave of absence from employment for 17 weeks.

 

*France offers paid leave of 16 weeks (six weeks before the baby is born and ten weeks after giving birth) for the first child. This increases for subsequent children.

 

*The United Kingdom offers a leave of 18 weeks. The first 6 weeks are paid at 90%; the next 12 weeks are paid at a fixed rate.

 

*Brazil’s constitution requires paid leave of 120 days (28 days before giving before and 91 days after).

 

*China grants maternity leave for 90 days at full salary.

 

According to statistics in the 2007 “Work, Family, and Equity Index”, 168 out of 173 countries offer paid maternity leave and 98 countries offer 14 or more weeks of maternity leave!  The United States is one of 5 countries that guarantee no paid leave for new mothers. The others are Lesotho, Liberia, Swaziland and Papua, New Guinea. (I have to admit, I didn’t know all of these were countries.)  

 

We thought we had made an amazing breakthrough when the Family Medical Leave Act was implemented and employers with more than 50 employees were obligated to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for the birth of a child.  As the country has been arguing amongst itself on “family values”, we have not paid attention to how other countries value families. We may “have come a long way, baby,” but it seems we still have a long way to go!

 

Photo Credit:  Contra Costa Times

Share