SAHRMA EBlast. June General Meeting. June Special Thanks to our Recent-Past Meeting Sponsors

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1 SAHRMA EBlast June 2010 June General Meeting Tuesday, June 8, 2010 Marriott Northwest, 3233 Northwest Loop 410 San Antonio, TX :20AM-1:20PM Click here to Register: Special Thanks to our Recent-Past Meeting Sponsors

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3 This program has been approved for 1.00 Hour credit toward General Recertification Credit through the HR Certification Institute. "The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit." Meeting Sponsored by:

4 Greeting Table Sponsor Message From Our President Jennifer Swisher, SPHR President As the summer months approach, so are the next SAHRMA elections! On June 8, 2010, we will hold elections for the following Board of Directors positions: Membership Director, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Professional Emphasis Groups Director, and College Relations Director. Members eligible to vote may do so electronically or in person at the June 8th General Meeting. E- ballots have gone out and e-voting will be open until noon on June 4th.

5 While summer vacation begins for students around San Antonio, your SAHRMA Board of Directors will be hard at work! The Board is actively working on initiatives for the 2010 SHRM Affiliate Program for Excellence (SHAPE). The PEG committee will present the 2nd Annual Hire-A-Vet Workshop for Employers on June 9th. The Membership Committee has organized a Missions Baseball Game event for SAHRMA members and their families on June 26th, The Government Affairs Committee is actively organizing the next Employment Law Update scheduled for August 26, The Diversity & Inclusion Committee will bring SAHRMA a Diversity Workshop this Fall. SHRM will hold its Annual Conference in San Diego, California, June 27-30, I will be there representing SAHRMA and look forward to seeing other SAHRMA members there! Go to for more information and to register. I would like to take this moment to truly THANK the Board members whose terms will be ending this month (unless re-elected): Liz Martinez, Maggie Cortez, Lee Wingert, Carlos Escobar, Mary Jean Hernandez, and Silvia Pena who is continuing her 2-year term until It has been a productive year and I appreciate all the contributions made by these incredible individuals. Sincerely, Jennifer S. Swisher, SPHR PROFESSIONAL EMPHASIS GROUP (PEG) Lee Wingert, SPHR Director of Professional Emphasis Groups Presents: 2 nd Annual "Hire-A-Veteran Workshop for Employers" As a follow up to last year's PEG workshop, this year's event will continue to

6 address obstacles employers may encounter when attempting to employ veterans. Speakers will address issues employers may encounter with military terminology on resumes, understanding military rankings, and differences in interviewing. This workshop will answer such questions as, "What is an MOS? What is the difference between Enlisted jobs and duties and those of an Officer?" Speakers will discuss ways to combat concerns throughout the full life cycle of employment from resume review to interviewing and on through to hiring concerns involving benefits, PTSD and general common misperceptions. The workshop will close with a panel of veterans discussing their experiences transitioning from military to civilian employment as well as issues they may have encountered with employers during this transition. Speakers: William "Bill" Zabicki- LTC, US Army, Retired; Transition Services Manager, U.S. Army Career and Alumni Program Morgan Hoogvelt- Branch Manager &Executive Recruiter at Creative Financial Staffing; former U.S. Military Panel Members: John Sacks & Thomas Ditri, USAA Crystal Jones, SwRI / Marine Veteran of 8 years Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 Place: Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, Conference Center Bldg. 263 Time: 7:30am - Continental Breakfast/Registration 8:00am - 9:35am - Presentations 9:35am-10:00am - Panel Cost: $30.00 for SAHRMA Members/ $40.00 for Non-Members HRCI Credit:

7 This program has been approved for 2.5 recertification credit toward General Recertification Credit through the HR Certification Institute. "The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit." Register at:

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9 2010 EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE (ELU) Conference SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The 2010 SAHRMA Employment Law Update ("ELU") is being held this year on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the TriPoint Conference Center. The Symposium and theme, "Changes Keep Coming!" provides Attendees with a full day of legal and legislative updates that impact their businesses by the Top Labor and Employment Attorneys with 174 years of combined experience with Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, Haynes and Boone, LLP, OgletreeDeakins, PC, Plunkett & Gibson, Inc.; and Law Office of Chris A. Scherer. In years past, this event has attracted over 150 business owners and human resource professionals in Civilian and Military Communities in Bexar and surrounding counties. SAHRMA is the fifth largest Trade Association in San Antonio. Memberships in SAHRMA are comprised of most of the 21 Major Corporate Headquarters located in San Antonio; more than 32 major regional/division offices in San Antonio and all of San Antonio's 19 Leading Manufacturers. The ELU Conference is a perfect setting for a business to market to human resource professionals. This year, we are providing businesses the opportunity to sponsor the "The Legislature" an All Day Event, "The House and Senate" morning break, The House and Senate" afternoon break, The Lunch Presentation and Keynote Speaker. These sponsorship opportunities fill up fast on a first-come, first-served basis, so let us know of your interest as soon as possible! If you would like to sponsor the 2010 Employment Law Update, "Changes Keep Coming!" please contact: Celia Rosas, SAHRMA Chapter Management Professional at or cmp@sahrma.org Fax number is

10 Membership Update

11 Elizabeth Martinez Membership Director Dear SAHRMA Members, As many of you know, the Board of Directors approved an increase to our membership dues effective March 1, 2010 to $100 per year with the exception of the student memberships. As I mentioned at the February general meeting and through the e-newsletters and e-blasts, the Board believed the increase was necessary to continue to provide the programs and events for your continuing education and professional development that you, as members, have come to appreciate from your membership to this association. In addition to the increase, there were a couple of other changes that the Board made as well on March 1st; however, we wanted to ensure we had the capacity to manage these additional changes before we announced them to the membership. The first change was moving all memberships from a calendar year to an anniversary date. As an example, if you joined SAHRMA or renewed your membership on June 1st, 2010, your anniversary date/renewal date will be June 1st, Also, you will now receive notices via 60 days and 30 days in advance of your membership expiring to remind you to renew your membership. If you do not renew within 30 days of your anniversary date, your membership will be cancelled. If any of you took advantage of the discount offered in October or November, your membership will renew in January. The second change that was made was regarding prorating memberships. With the change from a calendar year to an anniversary date, there is no need to prorate memberships any longer. We appreciate your continued support and if any of you have any questions or concerns regarding any of these changes, please contact me at membership@sahrma.org or any of the Board members. It is our goal to continue to provide exceptional service to our members. Liz Martinez Membership Director What Would You Do? Homer is an employee at your company who loves Texas Longhorn football. Next Saturday is the Longhorns' first game. Homer and several of his Longhorn co-workers are scheduled to work during the game. Homer and his co-workers are upset about the possibility of missing the game for work. They come to you, the HR Manager, and say they are not coming to work next Saturday so they can watch the game, and demand that the Company make it a policy that no employee should be required to work during any Longhorn games. You talk to the owner, and she says, "tell Homer and his buddies that if they are not here next Saturday, they are fired." What would you do? Haynes and Boone, LLP Lawrence Morales II Associate lawrence.morales@haynesboone.com

12 SAHRMA and SAMA present The 2010 Employment Law Conference - "Changes Keep Coming!" in a full day of legislative updates and insights from top local attorneys that represent Major Corporate Headquarters located in San Antonio; major regional/division offices in San Antonio and San Antonio's Leading Manufacturers. This year's Conference will be held at the TriPoint Conference Center on Thursday, August 26, p.m. Some of the Topics include: FLSA "The Department of Labor is Upon Us." - Laura O'Donnell The Nuts and Bolts of I-9's and more - Victoria M. Garcia Developments at the NLRB - Dawn M. Knepper Legal Issues Regarding Social Networking - Jim Kizziar, Jr. "You're Hired! Lessons Learned from Trump University - Brenna Nava/Lawrence Morales II "You're Fired! Lessons Learned from Trump University - John Heller and Chris Scherer This program has been submitted to HRCI for Recertification Credit. Who should attend? Supervisors, Managers, Directors, Administrators and Business Owners.!!!Don't delay...register NOW!!! Go to and click "Events. Employer Violates Little-Known Prohibition Against Bankruptcy Discrimination By Sandra Ramos White Bracewell & Giuliani LLP By all accounts, Tammy Robinette was an exemplary employee during her tenure with WESTconsin Credit Union, but she was terminated in June 2009 after she informed her supervisor that she and her husband intended to file for bankruptcy. At the time, the Robinettes had an outstanding loan from WESTconsin, which they planned to include in their bankruptcy petition. Robinette's supervisor told her that she was being terminated for "filing for bankruptcy," which would not "make WESTconsin look good." The Robinettes filed their bankruptcy petition the

13 following week, on June 25, and Tammy Robinette filed suit against WESTconsin under 11 U.S.C. 525(b), which prohibits a private employer from terminating or discriminating against "an individual who is or has been... a bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Act, or an individual associated with such... bankrupt, solely because such... bankrupt-- (1) is or has been a... bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Act...."[1] WESTconsin brought a motion to dismiss Robinette's claims, arguing that in order for the antidiscrimination provision of the statute to apply, the individual claiming discrimination must have already filed for bankruptcy at the time of the discriminatory act. The court, first noting that the provision is so little-known that case law interpreting the statute is "sparse," disagreed with WESTconsin's position and held that the statute "can be fairly read as extending to employers who terminate or otherwise discriminate against an employee who intends to file a petition for bankruptcy and does so." That said, the court refused to dismiss Robinette's claims and permitted her to proceed to trial. The lesson of this case is obvious - the bankruptcy law prohibits an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee for planning to file or filing for bankruptcy, or associating with an individual who is a bankrupt. Employers would be well advised to familiarize themselves with this little-known prohibition. Sandra Ramos White is an attorney with Bracewell & Giuliani LLP in the firm's San Antonio, Texas office. She represents management in all aspects of labor and employment law. [1] Robinette v. WESTconsin Credit Union, No. 09-CV-600, 2010 WL (W.D. Wis. Feb 25, 2010)..