You are here

TRSA Members Engage at Workforce Management, Safety Summits

Both events feature keynote speakers, workshop sessions

CHICAGO — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) hosted its Workforce Management and Safety Summits at the Embassy Suites Magnificent Mile here in mid-April. Each Summit featured a day of keynote speakers and workshop sessions.

“The great thing about these topics is that attendees will share with one another,” says TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci. “When it comes to sales and marketing, they’re less inclined to talk, but everyone can use help with human resources and safety.”

Jerry Brand from Crown Health Care Laundry in Pensacola, Fla., attended the Safety Summit.

“I love this kind of stuff,” says Brand. “Actually, the sessions could be longer for me. They could go half a day, with breaks. There is always something you can tweak in your organization. I always want to learn more.”

While this was the sixth Safety Summit, the Workforce Management Summit was a first-time event.

“The Workforce Summit was driven by the success of our monthly webinars,” says Ricci. “The H.R. ones are always well attended and most active.”

Ricci says about 80% of the total number of attendees for the two days signed up to take part in both Summits. Forty-three TRSA members attended the Workforce Management Summit, while 62 signed up for the Safety Summit.

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT

The Workforce Management Summit kicked off with a keynote presentation by Valerie Grubb, president of Val Grubb & Associates Ltd. She spoke on defining the value of human resource departments and professionals.

“H.R. departments need to align workforce strategy for the company,” she says. “We can aid in increasing revenue and containing cost. We can also partner with leadership for future success.”

The morning concluded with a workshop presented by Joe Shelton, partner in Fisher & Phillips LLC. The topic: from termination to trial.

Attendees watched video clips as a fictional employee was terminated from a job, sued the company for discrimination and then went to trial.

The workshop put attendees in the position of the jury in order to figure out what the fictional company’s human resources did right—and didn’t do right.

In the afternoon, educational breakout tracks on compliance and employment were offered.

The compliance track featured sessions on Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) white-collar exemptions and employment law, while the employment track examined pre-testing to aid hiring and the future of H.R. for success.

The day concluded with a panel question-and-answer session. Issues raised ranged from incentive programs to medical marijuana laws.

The panel agreed that the top issue in human resources today is employee retention.

“Change is here,” says Carmen Berrelleza, senior human resources manager for Prudential Overall Supply. “The industry needs to bring change. If we don’t, we’re going to be in serious trouble.”

SAFETY

At the Safety Summit, Joe Wheatley of EnPro Industries Inc., a 2016 EHS Today Safety Award winner, delivered the keynote address on how his company views safety.

“We have a dual bottom line,” he says. “We have financial profit and human development. Both are on an equal footing, have equal weight in our decision-making process. It’s about being more profitable through safety.”

The rest of the morning through early afternoon presented attendees with six breakout workshop session options: fire protection, fleet safety, low-voltage electrical, lockout/tagout, confined space and hazard communication.

“We need to make safety materials visual, easy for employees to follow,” says Scott Stone of Brady Corp., which produces safety products for manufacturing environments. “We need to have training to make sure employees understand every step.”

A panel of safety professionals concluded the day with a question-and-answer session, with topics ranging from starting a safety program to getting senior management to become more safety-driven.

With all of the information presented, attendees walked away with many ideas to help improve workforce management and safety at their operations.

“I take a lot of notes, and then I’ll go back to the office and send myself e-mails,” says Suzanne Ormond, risk manager for Alsco Inc. “You have to have a management system to keep it all organized.”

TRSA has scheduled its next Workforce Management and Safety Summits for May 16-17, 2018, in St. Louis.

trsa summits flsa web

Joe Shelton, partner in Fisher & Phillips LLC, leads a breakout session on FLSA white-collar exemption compliance. (Photos: Matt Poe)

trsa summits safety panel web

Industry safety professionals answer questions from TRSA Safety Summit attendees.

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].