MEETING MINUTES – June 11th, 2003

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Association held on Wednesday, June 11th, at the Renaissance Hotel in Asheville.  Should you have any questions, comments or corrections, please contact Bridget Downey, PHR, our Chapter Secretary.

BUSINESS MEETING

Chapter Business:

• The meeting was opened by President Lorraine Poe, SPHR, who asked members and guests to introduce themselves.

• Mike Moore, formerly with AGFA is now working with WCI.

• Deborah Stewart is leaving Charter Communications, and will be helping business startups as an HR Expert.

• SEACCO is looking for truck drivers.

• Lorraine reminded everyone that the state SHRM conference will be September 23-24 this year.

Speakers:

• Frank Pomeroy introduced Claire Edwards from the North Carolina Services for the Blind.  She is a job placement specialist, working to provide financial, educational, and technical assistance to help reduce barriers to employment for visually impaired adults.  Coaches help clients until they are able to manage a job on their own.  Often the only obstacle to employment is a misperception by employers that they won’t be able to do the job.  There are now some adaptive technologies for only a few hundred dollars that allow the blind to use the same software as any other employee. Claire asked that members complete her short survey to help her know what interests local employers may have.  The NC Services for the Blind also provides assistance for people whose eyesight is declining. 

• Bettina Hall introduced Tiffany Lathan, Discrimination Investigator for the NC DOL, who spoke on Complying with REDA, The Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act.  She is a native of Rutherfordton and works with Team RDA in Raleigh to enforce the REDA.  There are 8 investigators on their staff – 2 in Charlotte, 1 in Greensboro, and 5 in Raleigh.  This group works so well together that there has been no turnover in 5 years.  Their agency is neither a pro-employee nor a pro-employer group.  They hear both sides and try to make fair decisions. 

• When investigating, NC DOL representatives will usually arrive unannounced. An employer may request a subpoena, but that only delays things.  At any time an employer may call 1-800-LABORNC for information or advice on REDA. 

• Although all cases are different, generally an investigation will be launched in response to an employee complaint.  The investigation may be via fax, phone, e-mail, or personal visit.  Tiffany prefers handling things via e-mail when possible.  This makes it easier for her to make contact.  Once the investigation is completed, a final investigative report is issued.  There is a large variety of possible resolutions, including returning the employee to his/her former job.

Some advice for preventing RETA problems:

• Don’t try too hard to keep problem employees.  If they aren’t working out, let them go.

• Hold positions for employees who have been called to military service or the National Guard.

• If your employee needs to be in court for personal or children’s issues, let them go.

• Document performance and attendance problems promptly.

• Have clear policies and enforce them.

• Take notes on problem situations.

• Make decisions & be firm in sticking to them.

• Give the disabled a fair chance.

• Communicate with employees.  Explain things in the language an employee can understand.

• When you need to meet with an employee, consider having another person present that he/she feels comfortable with.

• At staff meetings, announce the procedure for reporting injuries, and repeat it.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.