HR Roundup — June 2017

HR-Playbook’s monthly review of big stories and important issues from the world of human resources is designed to open your eyes to new ideas that will make you better at your job.
This month, we cover a wide array of topics, from apathetic employees and dealing with complaints to Uber’s ugly scandal and a cuddly puppy for police officers in the Fox Valley. Let’s take a look at headlines from June …
Explaining employee benefits — Does anybody care?
One of the most important duties in human resources is explaining benefits like health insurance to employees. That could mean onboarding new hires or describing plan changes to the entire company. Unfortunately, many employees are unconcerned with the details of their health coverage … until they have a problem. Then, they want answers and specifics as soon as possible.
In a video on SHRM’s YouTube channel, human resources consultant, Karl Ahlrichs, said that it’s certainly worth the time to explain health coverage to employees, because health insurance is a major investment.

“When an organization spends tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars on an employee benefit plan and then doesn’t explain it to the employees who are getting it, that’s wasted money,” he said.
Ahlrichs believes HR should begin informative meetings with what matters most to the member, the results of benefits, which will improve employee engagement. He says benefits administrators often make the mistake of beginning with the technicalities of what benefits do or how they work. By the time the results come up, the employee is confused and no longer paying attention.
Get more from Ahlrichs when you visit SHRM.org to read the article and watch the video. For specific advice on explaining high deductible health plans with a health savings account, check out the HR-Playbook article.
Sometimes HR professionals have questions too. Employers enrolled in coverage from our sponsor, Security Health Plan, can call 1–800–472–2363 for customer service. Those interested in receiving a quote can call 1–800–622–7790.
Shifting the conversation
Dealing with employee complaints can be an uncomfortable experience. However, you should view this as an opportunity to turn a negative topic into a force for positive change in the workplace.
Clarus Works, CEO, Susan Mazza, offers advice on how to turn complaints into productive dialogues. She says it starts by offering an empathetic ear and simply listening to the employee before looking for the solution.
“The key to shifting a complaint into constructive conversation is letting off some steam,” Mazza explains. “You do that by supporting people in fully voicing their complaint without trying to address or fix the problem.”
Get five actionable tips from Mazza, who was named one of the “Top 100 Thought Leaders” by Trust Across America, when you visit the TalentSpace blog.
Human resources and the Uber scandal
Uber’s leadership team has gone through a major shakeup in the wake of its corporate culture controversy, which involves accusations of gender discrimination and harassment.

Uber co-founder, Travis Kalanick, stepped down as CEO in June, and he was far from the only executive to resign or be fired due to the ongoing scandal. Yet, as Uber looks to reshape top management, its chief human resources officer remains with the tech company.
Liane Hornsey has been criticized by some for taking the side of the company rather than supporting employees. However, she’s also reportedly taken hundreds of meetings with Uber employees since joining the company in November of last year, months after the internal issues came to light.
An article from Mashable.com takes a closer look and questions what Hornsey and Uber’s HR department should do to remedy the current situation. It’s an interesting story and a cautionary tale for those in charge of steering corporate culture and company policy.
A cuddly companion for Appleton cops

When you think of police dogs, you probably imagine a well-trained German Shepherd with the job of sniffing out illegal drugs and chasing down bad guys.
Yet, the newest canine member of the Appleton Police Department has a different role … being friendly and loveable. The adorable Golden Doodle puppy, named Blue, already has his first job … and he’s barely house trained. As the “station dog,” Blue is part of the department’s wellness program. He’ll be improving the wellbeing of police personnel by boosting moods and morale.
WBAY-TV in Green Bay reports that Blue is also being trained through the Fox Valley Humane Association as a therapy dog for use comforting victims in the community, including grieving children.
Learn more about how a dog-friendly policy at your company can improve employee wellness when you read our article, Dog Days at Work. Discover a complete plan for implementing pet-friendly office guidelines.

