Monthly SHRM Meeting Agenda:

Wednesday, January 10, at 8 am to 10:30 am

Location:
Corporate & Community Education Center (MAP)
1600 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA

Speaker: Sara Goldsmith Schwartz and Jessica L. Herbster

Cost: This event is free to members and $25 to non members. Guests may attend the first two meetings at no charge.

Topic:
The Birds and The Bug: Is Your Business Prepared for the Pandemic Flu?

A new strain of influenza virus (H5N1) has been found in birds in Asia, and it is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), there is no human immunity to this strain, and there is no vaccine available. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Thus, there is real concern that there could be a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness.

In the event of a pandemic flu, businesses will play a critical role in limiting the pandemic’s impact on the economy and our communities. The U.S. Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security are asking U.S. businesses to be prepared for a pandemic flu: “We are requesting that you, as a business leader, focus on the need for planning within your organization for the possibility of an influenza pandemic.”

This dynamic, interactive presentation will: (1) suggest practical human resources steps for businesses to follow in the event of a pandemic flu; (2) identify the policies to be updated and implemented; (3) discuss how to allocate resources to protect employees and customers; and (4) offer tips for communicating with and educating employees, as well as for coordinating efforts with external organizations and the community.

As the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises:

“Get informed. Be prepared.”

 

NEW Session Format:

8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-9:00 Welcome to New members and guests; Networking
9:00-9:10 Sponsor
9:10-10:15 Program
10:15-10:30 SHRM/GMVHRA business

 

Information about our speakers:

Sara Goldsmith Schwartz is the Founder and President of Schwartz Hannum PC, a law firm based in Andover, MA, providing labor and employment counsel to a wide variety of businesses and non-profit organizations. The Firm’s nine attorneys are dedicated to providing excellent representation of employers with respect to a wide variety of labor and employment issues. The Firm is also a certified woman-owned business enterprise (“WBE”) through the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (“SOMWBA”), as well as Women’s Business Enterprise National Council “WBENC”). Sara Schwartz is a cum laude graduate of both Yale College and Harvard Law School. Both Sara and the Firm have received the AV Peer Review Rating, which is the highest possible rating through Martindale-Hubbell. In 2006, Chambers USA recognized Sara as a leading attorney in her area of expertise.  In 2004 and 2005, Sara was selected by Boston Magazine and Massachusetts Super Lawyer as a Super Lawyer in Labor and Employment Law in Massachusetts. Sara was selected as one of the "Up and Coming Lawyers in Massachusetts" in 2001 by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Jessica L. Herbster is a graduate of Boston College Law School. She received her undergraduate degree, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from Bucknell University. Prior to joining the Firm, Jessica was an associate with Lowenstein Sandler PC in New Jersey, where her practice focused on employment and business litigation matters. Jessica has extensive experience before state and federal courts and agencies in cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, as well as in contract actions, disputes over non-competition, confidentiality agreements, and other business torts. She has counseled management regarding a broad range of employment practices, such as hiring, sexual harassment policies, claim investigations, compensation and termination, and employee discipline. Jessica is a member of the Bar of the State of New Jersey and is admitted to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Supreme Court of the United States.  Her admission to the bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is pending.

Please see the Firm’s Website, at www.shpclaw.com, for more information regarding the Firm, its attorneys and the scope of the Firm’s practice.

Our Sponsor for this event is:

ASRI.COM – Waltham, MA
800-699-6891 x225 – ken@asri.com - www.asri.com

You know exactly what to look for in the perfect candidate. But what about an HR communications partner to help you find the perfect candidate? That partner should add valuable ideas, think creatively and provide solutions to your toughest recruiting challenges. Bottom line, your communications partner should make your life less complicated and your results much improved.

Creative thinking defines every area of our business, from account management, to strategy, to research and planning. Our approach is simple but successful:

• Research your situation and understand your problems
• Develop an effective HR communications strategy
• Create the right employer brand and communications platform
• Deliver targeted recruitment communications solutions
• Measure results and improve ROI

That’s our job, and we do it like no one else. We are serious listeners, innovative strategists creative communicators, and responsive professionals who’ve been delivering our own brand of HR communications strategies to New England HR executives since 1968.

We’re here to help you overcome whatever HR communications challenge you face:

• Communications Consulting
• Targeted Advertising/Communications
• Social Networking/Referral methods
• Design Services
• Interactive Communication
• Staffing Event Management
• HR Public Relations

ASRI is proud to be a sponsor of GMVHRA, and we look forward to meeting many of you in January, 2007. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have an HR communications, staffing or retention problem we might help you solve. I’ve been told I’m a great listener.

Thank you, Ken Isaacson, President

  
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