Minutes of Monthly Meeting of the Association. Should you have any questions or
comments, please contact
Gail
Baylor, PHR.
Opening:
Carol Rovello welcomed
members and guests to the meeting. Rovello had members and guests
stand and introduce themselves. After introductions, she announced
that the membership dues letters for 2007 have been sent out. She
encouraged anyone who is not a current member to join. Rovello also
informed the membership about the sister chapter,
Smoky Mountain HR Association,
which holds meetings at Western Carolina University. Members of our
chapter are welcomed to attend meetings of the
SMHRA at Western.
Vendor:
Frank Pomeroy introduced our July vendor, Don Amick, from Right
Management. Amick is the Vice President of Strategic Accounts for the
Carolinas. Right Management is the world’s largest human resources
consulting company and is located in forty countries.
Programs: The
speaker was Julie Klipp
Nickelson, an attorney with
Pisgah Legal Services, and her topic was “When Domestic Violence
Comes to Work: How to Help Your Employee”. Pisgah Legal Services
serves 6 counties, has 16 attorneys and 30 staff members. Some facts
about domestic violence (dv):
1) 1 in 3 women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime;
2) 73% of domestic violence cases
go unreported;
3) Domestic violence ranks #1 among causes of
homelessness in 44% of cities surveyed;
4) 74% of employed survivors of domestic violence
have reported harassment by their abusers while at work;
5) Homicide was the second leading cause of death
on the job of women in 2000. A 2005 source reports that domestic
violence is the LEADING cause of death among women on the job.
There are three stages of domestic violence:
- Walking on egg shells
- Explosion
- Wonderful person
Usually it takes a victim of domestic violence 7
to 10 attempts before she is able to leave her abuser. Leaving the
abuser is the most dangerous time in the relationship. A victim needs
a source of income and support from her employer.
What can you do?
- Remember this presentation
- Create a policy on domestic violence
- Prohibit discrimination against employees who
disclose a domestic violence situation
- Create a Safety Plan and Procedures
- Connect with employee and available resources
There was much discussion after this
presentation. The presenter offered her email address for
questions:
Julie@pisgahlegal.org.
Final Announcements
Charles Martinez attended the
SHRM conference in Las Vegas and mentioned the programs were
wonderful. Carol Rovello encouraged members to join SHRM.
With no further business, the meeting was
adjourned.
Gail Baylor, PHR
