2024 Conference Sessions Day One- Sacramento Area Human Resource Association

The Inclusive Leadership Imperative: Building Bridges, Overcoming Resistance

Designed for HR professionals, leaders at all levels, and DEI champions, this course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to build a sustainable inclusive leadership infrastructure, navigate potential resistance to DEI, and implement impactful practices that foster a diverse and engaged workforce. Attendees will participate in virtual polling, a question-and-answer session, and will receive a virtual resource as a parting gift to aid in their continuous learning.

Jaisha White, MS, PHR is a visionary changemaker dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace and educational settings. As a Sr. DEI Analyst at EBMUD, she leads and co-leads a range of strategic initiatives, including playing a pivotal role in co-developing the District's first DEI Strategic Plan. Her nearly 20 years of public sector human resources experience, primarily with the State of California, have been instrumental in guiding managers toward building diverse workforces and cultivating inclusive work environments. Jaisha extends her commitment to social impact through her role as an adjunct faculty member at the Los Rios Community College District. There, she creates culturally responsive learning environments and ensures students of all backgrounds and identities feel seen, affirmed, safe, respected, empowered, and supported. Her dedication to building a more inclusive world extends beyond her professional life. She actively volunteers for St. John's Program for Real Change and Safe Black Space. She is also committed to continuous learning and professional development and actively engages with professional organizations like SAHRA, the Sacramento Association for Talent Development, the Society for Diversity, and the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). She also sits on the California Career Development Association's Professional Development Committee.

Sylvia Johnson, MS, CDE (she/her) is a dynamic leader with more than a decade of experience driving change through equity-related initiatives across various organizational settings. Sylvia has held diverse roles within human resources in the health and public service sectors where she championed diversity, created inclusive environments, and fostered employee well-being. Sylvia is an expert in the areas of Americans with Disabilities Act and Reasonable Accommodations, Employee Relations, Leadership Development, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). In her current role as DEIA Manager for the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), Sylvia spearheaded the creation of the DEIA Office, building a team and strategy to infuse DEIA principles throughout state operations. In previous roles as Personnel Analyst at the County of Sacramento and EEO Officer at CalHR, Sylvia developed leadership training courses, resolved labor disputes, advised managers on employee relations issues, and delved deep into eliminating discrimination, investigating complaints, and ensuring fair employment practices. Sylvia demonstrates her commitment to equity in her personal life volunteering with organizations like Women's Empowerment where she helps women with interviewing and career development skills. Sylvia is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and holds a master's degree in organizational leadership, driven by her research on the impact of toxic leadership on employee engagement. This unique blend of knowledge and experience empowers Sylvia to identify organizational issues and design solutions that foster a culture of inclusion, where everyone can thrive.

Today's workplace is full of challenges. Multigenerational employees who are motivated by different things. Remote work. An upcoming presidential election. War across the globe. In the face of these troubles, how can employers recruit and retain good employees, and maintain a fair, efficient, and collaborative workplace? A solid compliance program, on-going training, and team building. It's not easy, of course, but we can do hard things! Join Jen Shaw for an in-depth discussion of the steps you can take to shape your workplace for success.

Jennifer Shaw is the founder of Shaw Law Group, and a 2019 recipient of the Sacramento Business Journal's "Women Who Mean Business" award. A well-respected expert in employment law for more than 25 years, employers regularly rely on Jennifer to counsel them on a broad range of employment law issues.

Delve into transformative strategies that attract high-caliber candidates and foster meaningful connections through purpose-driven recruitment and onboarding practices. Discover how weaving social purpose into every stage of the talent acquisition process not only elevates your employer brand but also cultivates a workforce deeply committed to your organization's mission and values.

Kathleen (Katie) is a dynamic HR professional with a bold vision for the future of work. Motivated by experiences of workplace discrimination of her mother, she embarked on a mission to disrupt HR practices. Specializing in the not-for-profit social enterprise sector, Katie is a passionate advocate for ethical decision-making practices, and fostering psychologically safe spaces where diverse perspectives thrive.

Navigating Post-Investigation Waters: Strategies for Conflict Resolution and Rebuilding Trust

Navigating the aftermath of a workplace investigation requires sensitivity, strategic communication, and proactive conflict resolution techniques. In this session, participants will delve into the intricacies of managing post-investigation dynamics to foster healing, reconciliation, and a renewed sense of trust within the organization. Attendees will explore practical strategies for addressing the aftermath of workplace investigations with empathy and professionalism. Participants will learn how to communicate investigation outcomes transparently while balancing confidentiality and privacy for all parties involved. Furthermore, this session will equip attendees with the skills to identify potential post-investigation risks and the steps the organization can take to mitigate them. Moreover, this session will emphasize the importance of promoting healing and reconciliation among employees affected by the investigation. Attendees will learn how to create supportive environments for employees to express concerns, address grievances, and participate in restorative practices aimed at repairing relationships and rebuilding trust. By the end of this session, participants will be empowered with actionable insights and tools to navigate the complexities of post-investigation dynamics effectively, promote conflict resolution, and contribute to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued and supported.

With over 17 years' experience as an employment lawyer, Ms. McFadden leads her own law firm in the greater Sacramento area. Specializing in conducting impartial workplace investigations, she is known for her efficiency and reliability in navigating complex and sensitive workplace issues across various sectors. From small-scale enterprises to expansive government entities, Ms. McFadden employs a thorough and unbiased approach, ensuring comprehensive resolution to workplace complaints. Prior to devoting her practice exclusively to workplace investigations, Mrs. McFadden practiced civil litigation for over a decade where she represented public entities and personnel in a range of legal disputes. Mrs. McFadden has also conducted trainings throughout her career on issues tailored to her clients' needs to empower them with a deeper understanding of workplace issues and supervisory nuances.

There is a growing animosity between employers and employees that we all have felt these past few years. 85% of staff are disengaged at work, and the phrase "I don't want to work anymore" is more common than at any time in modern history. It's manifested in quiet quitting, quiet firing, strikes, and RIFs/Layoffs. We can ignore this problem and hope it miraculously disappears, or we can proactively address it. The organizations brave enough to take this challenge head-on will thrive for the foreseeable future, while others obsessed with the status quo will become as obsolete as Blockbuster Video. This talk explores the bold steps we need to heal the divisions within workplaces using a play-oriented approach to work. The only way to find unique solutions to these significant issues that organizations have been too afraid to face is through a play mindset. We will identify immediately actionable strategies to mend the divide between C-Suite executives, managers, and staff. Together, we can choose what direction we want the future of work to go. The question we must answer is: What are we willing to do to create a work culture where not only the organization can thrive but where our people finally become the priority?

Jeff Harry

Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, Wired, NPR, NatGeo, & Forbes. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Over the past 15 years of facilitation and speaking, Jeff's main goal has been to help work suck less by assisting leaders in building a playground workplace atmosphere that motivates their staff to do their most vibrant work.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS - 1:30 PM

Dollars and Sense: Salary Management in 2025 and Beyond

We will explore and explain updated approaches to:

Setting job values based on both internal indicators and legitimate external labor market data

Complying with minimum wage laws while avoiding pay compression

Incorporating managers' input in job evaluation

Addressing the impact of inflation on pay

Setting salaries that are both equitable and competitive

Communicating about pay beyond legally required transparency

Shari Dunn

Shari Dunn innovatively designs and develops strategic base pay and incentive plans as well as performance management approaches. A U.C. Berkeley psychology graduate and veteran of McKinsey, Deloitte, and her own firm, CompAnalysis, which was acquired by Gallagher in 2010, she frequently presents at professional conferences, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Consulting Excellence by Consulting Magazine in 2022.

HR Professionals are now Guardians of the Workplace: WVPP Planning & Development

Is your organization ready to implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan in compliance with the requirements set forth under labor code 6401.9 effective July 1, 2024? This plan is required to be in effect at all times and at all locations where work is performed. Guardian Protection Force Inc., has been providing Workplace Violence Training and Threat Awareness / Mitigation for nearly a decade and a half. We are the Guardians who protect high net worth individuals, fortune 500 business entities and we work along HR professionals each and every day to ensure workplaces are secure and protected.

Ashlee Cervantes Thomas

Ashlee Cervantes Thomas is a seasoned security executive who is passionate about all things related to security solutions, physical risk mitigation and security management. Ashlee holds her Masters in Business Administration from the University of California, Davis. In her 15+ year career she has overseen hundreds of security professionals who specialize in Armed Security and Executive Protection. Ashlee is based in Northern California where she serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Guardian Protection Force Inc., as well as the Founder of Guardian Secure Solutions LLC - a full service technology based Security Operations Center. Ashlee has built a legacy established by prioritizing core values each day to deliver the highest caliber security service to our communities and customers. Our ultimate mission is to be the Guardians of the communities we serve.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS - 2:40 PM

Workforce Innovation Boards

Join us for an insightful session tailored for HR professionals, where we delve into the myriad tools and resources available within your county to elevate the skill sets of your current workforce. Discover how these resources can be effectively leveraged to upskill employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within your organization.

Kara Jimenez, Erica Johnson, and William Walker

Kara Jimenez is the HR Director at Adams Group, Inc., a Board Member of the Yolo County Workforce Innovation Board, and community volunteer. Kara is approaching two decades in various HR roles from Intern to Director and has found a passion in Workforce Development and HR strategy. Kara’s focus with the Workforce Innovation Board is in the area of youth services helping to answer the question “How can our community champion our youth in their transition from school into the work environment?” While Kara enjoys all she does for her community, her favorite title is “Mom” and she loves to cook and travel with her family in their free time.

Erica Johnson is Executive Director of the Yolo County Workforce Innovation Board and Manager over the Agricultural Labor, Business Services and Workforce Services for Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency. Erica came to Yolo County from the east coast in July 2018 as the YoloWorks! Program Coordinator for Employment & Business Services with a background in employment, youth, housing, business, and disability services. In her time with the County, Erica has helped to expand the array of services available through YoloWorks! Career Services, while also strengthening the relationships between the County, job seekers and employers. With a passion for developing strategic initiatives, Erica leverages her expertise to create synergies between workforce development and sustainable economic practices, ultimately enhancing community vitality. Erica is dedicated to cultivating a thriving environment where businesses flourish and jobseekers are able to build fulfilling careers.

William Walker is a Workforce Development Manager for SETA and Sacramento Works, Inc. He has worked to provide connections between Employers and Job Seekers. He is responsible for SETA/Sacramento Works Employer Services Team, which includes Rapid Response Coordination and managing Special Grants That serve the most vulnerable populations in the Sacramento community.

Over the years he’s worked with the State of California Department of General Services (DGS) and City of Sacramento and their General Contractors on recruiting and tracking at risk and vulnerable community to employment opportunities. William also works with the Sacramento Sierra Construction and Building Trades Council and General Contractors to ensure that individuals who have limited access to careers in the construction trade are provided opportunities in the construction industry.

Over the years, he has worked several major employers and educational institutions to connect the Sacramento regions job seekers to quality employment opportunities.

Mastering FMLA and ADA: Elevating HR Superpowers with ChatGPT and exploring the new Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act!

Learn effective complaint strategies, tips, best practices, and HR Standards of care for implementing your companies' performance management system for employees who have accommodations or protected leave and are not meeting the expectations of the job or are unable to meet the performance standards with their accommodations. Understand how to manage complaints and conduct investigations when an employee with ADA, CFRA/FMLA, PDL or other benefits is involved in a EEO complaint of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, etc.

Beth De Lima, President, and Principal of HRM Consulting, Inc. and Leave Management Solutions, has been offering comprehensive consulting services in FMLA and ADA Integrated Management since 1993. Her expertise spans FMLA, ADA, performance management, policies, procedures, and investigations, providing state and federal expert testimony on HR Industry Standards of Care as a Vocational Consultant and National Subject Matter Expert Witness in ADA compliance and how to define a Qualified Individual with a Disability. Beth takes a holistic approach to HR matters and testifies frequently for both the employee and employer side of sensitive personnel litigation disputes as an HR & Vocational Rehabilitation Subject Matter Expert. Beth is a distinguished speaker on HR topics for professional organizations and tailored client training, holding national certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR-CA), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and having an Masters in Business Association as well as her Inner MBA. Her extensive knowledge positions her as an HR compliance expert, specializing in personnel litigation disputes, offering valuable insights for both employees and employers.