The HR Team May 2008 Newsletter

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It's May, and May means Mother's Day. Mother's Day is a time of commemoration and celebration for Mom. It is a time of breakfast in bed, family gatherings, and crayon scribbled "I Love You's." One of the best ways to celebrate is to give your mom the day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the rest of the family does the work- kids do you read my newsletter?

Early Mother's Day celebrations are said to have occurred in ancient Greece when ceremonies honored Rhea, the mother of the gods. In the 1600's, England began celebrating "Mothering Sunday." It began as a day when servants, who lived and worked in the great mansions, were allowed to return home and spend time with their mothers.

In the United States, it was President Woodrow Wilson, who in 1914 made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. For some Mother's Day ideas visit DayForMothers.com.

Healthy Howard Day

It is hard to not notice how difficult it is for us all to maintain active healthy lifestyles. That challenge puts a strain on our bodies and the workplace. Studies have proven that preventable illnesses have a direct effect on an employer's cost of health care, disability, worker's compensation, absenteeism, productivity, safety and morale.

The Howard County Chamber of Commerce and The Horizon Foundation have been working together to promote the benefits of a safe and healthy workplace as integral to achieving organizational excellence. Healthy Howard Day is an opportunity for employers to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to their workforce and encourage employees and their families to participate on June 1st. As part of the event, employees and their families will receive health education, enjoy a day of healthy fun and outside physical activity as well as receive important health screenings.

Healthy Howard Day is presented by We Promote Health, a local non-profit organization promoting healthy lifestyles in the community with the support of its numerous partners. For more information, please visit the Healthy Howard Day website. (www.HealthyHowardDay.org)

Crazy Ideas Can Be Creative

When a brainstorming session gets bogged down, marketing research consultants suggest asking people for their worst ideas. Quoted at salesforcexp.com, they say reverse psychology helps everyone loosen up and relieves the fear of saying something dumb.

The worst ideas will bring laughs, but hearing them helps people come up with ideas that aren't so crazy, they say. The high-energy situation and outlandish suggestions help people think.

Sometimes a bad idea carries the seeds of greatness.

HR Team News

Please join me in welcoming our three new hires: Meg McCormick, Mariela Leary and Keidra Lazard.

Meg McCormick is a senior generalist and has over 15 years of HR experience. She most recently worked for SmartHR. Meg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Mariela Leary is also a senior generalist and also has 15 years of human resources experience. She most recently worked for Hanley Wood. Mariela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Baruch College.

Keidra Lazard is a human resources assistant. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland and is earning a graduate degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from University of Baltimore. She is a member of Chesapeake Human Resources Association and Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology.

Vacation Payout Upon Termination Update

We promised in our January newsletter to update you all on the status in Maryland on vacation payment upon termination. As it turns out, on April 24th, the Governor of Maryland signed emergency legislation that upon certain conditions permits employers in Maryland to have policies in their handbook requiring employees to forfeit their unused vacation upon termination of employment.

The state's website has been updated (http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wagepay/wpunusedvacpay.htm).

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