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Human Resources Certificate Program - Ft Smith, AR 

HR seminars are designed for you to take an individual topic or attend all 8 one-day seminars to earn your HR Certificate. The topics covered are functional areas of HR and are designed to give you practical, results-oriented strategies and the latest legal updates.

View the Kansas City Human Resources Brochure

The Human Resource Certificate program is designed for professionals new to the human resource field, human resource assistants and staff who provide technical and administrative support. The noncredit certificate program consists of 60 hours of instruction.  Sessions meet every other week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To earn the Certificate all eight sessions must be completed. Upon completion you will be presented a framed certificate granted by the Missouri State University College of Business Administration.

Session One - February 20, 2009
Legal Issues Impacting the Workplace
 This workshop provides an in-depth and timely review of federal and state legislation that impacts the area of employment. Laws are explained in layman's terms and no prior knowledge of the legal system is necessary.

Key Information

  • Discrimination in Employment

  • Sexual Harassment-Hostile Work Environment
  • ADA, FMLA, AA/EEO, WARN, OSHA
  • Addressing Military Leaves of Absence
  • Hours of work/overtime; exempt vs non-exempt
  • Just-cause termination; safety & health developments
  • Tobacco, drug & alcohol use & testing

Know your employee and employer rights to avoid costly legal mistakes. Both Missouri and Kansas legislation will be addressed.

Session Two - March 6, 2009
 Recruiting Right - Hire Smart
 Discover extensive out-of-the-box recruiting techniques that work! Find the right person for the right position, and learn low cost ideas to keep the best staff on the job as valuable, top-performing employees. This seminar combines the techniques designed to help increase job commitment, job satisfaction, trust and loyalty that will impact employee productivity.

Key Information

Recruiting

  • Learn new marketing strategies to compete for your ideal candidates

Hiring Practices

  • Screening, questioning & concluding the selection process

Retention Strategies

  • Learn the 7 components necessary for a successful retention

Give yourself and your company the recruiting, hiring and retention success you deserve.

Session Three - March 20, 2009
 HR Documentation
 This seminar explores the key areas of documentation: employee handbook, record-keeping and functional job descriptions.

Employee Handbook

 Key Information

  • The 15 must-have handbook sections

  • Sample statements & legal consideration
  • Fair procedures to promote equality & reduce misunderstandings

Keeping Employee Records
 Learn how to set up a system for recordkeeping that will show what information must be kept and for how long, which records are confidential and what the employee's rights are.

Key Information

  • Types of records that must be kept to satisfy 11 different labor & employment laws and state requirements

  • Receive a record retention summary chart

Writing Functional Job Descriptions
Learn what to include in a job description and how to write it in a format people can use, while still meeting Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Key Information

  • Using job descriptions as a positive management tool

  • Writing descriptions to comply with ADA & wage-hour laws
  • Learn to design & write proper descriptions to promote positive employee relations, assist with recruiting, selection & performance appraisals & as a liability defense tool

Session Four - April 3, 2009
 Investigative Procedures
 Supervisors, managers and HR professionals need to know proper and legal strategies and techniques to investigate all types of problems which may arise in the workplace. A proper investigation on behalf of all parties involved can be your number one defense against liability. This seminar will give you a step-by-step process to conduct a thorough and legal internal investigation.

Key Information:

  • Developing a 10-step investigation plan

  • Interviewing techniques that uncover the real story
  • Compile & analyze physical & documentary evidence
  • Presenting investigation findings
  • Preventing retaliation & future misconduct
  • How to avoid 10 common investigation errors

Complaints, problems and accidents become daily issues. Trained human resources professionals and operational supervisors can resolve these issues legally and professionally through successful investigations.

Session Five - April 17, 2009
Performance Appraisals/Discipline & Termination 

Performance Appraisals
A properly implemented performance appraisal system can move your organization forward to improve performance and productivity. How well employees perform job duties and meet job responsibilities are critical to the employee's success and the company's success.

Key Information

Eliminate the Surprises

  • How to turn a dreaded task into a performance-boosting tool

  • Steps for an ideal performance appraisal procedure
  • Key employee "dreads" that impact productivity and job satisfaction

Goals of Performance Appraisals

  • Better results from all employees

  • Practice appraisal interviewing techniques
  • Increase employee commitment on all levels

Discipline & Termination
 Employee problems are some of the most difficult situations managers face. Learn effective tools and techniques on how to deal with problem employees.

Key Information

Guidelines for Handling Behavior Problems

  • Use of appropriate forms to increase consistency in documentation

  • Steps in effectively administering formal discipline sessions
  • Understand legal considerations
  • Avoid frequently made mistakes

Increase Your Effectiveness

  • Understand the performance management spectrum

  • Learn when coaching is appropriate
  • Stopping the snowball effect to keep morale and productivity high

Session Six - May 1, 2009
 Workers' Compensation/Health Insurance for Today's Workplace
Workers' Compensation
 Learn how to effectively track an injured employee through the process of workers' compensation, and how to define and understand a compensable injury through disability ratings and administrative hearings. Emphasis will be placed on procedural aspects, handling employee claims, and accident prevention techniques.

Key Information

  • Review the latest statutes

  • Understanding the administrative process
  • The nuts and bolts of the workers' compensation process
  • Accident prevention strategies

Health Insurance for Today's Workplace
The topic of insurance has become confusing, and in some instances, frightening for many people in recent years. Cost-conscious employers and payers are faced with dealing with consumers that fear the unknown and do not understand the system. Learn to reduce that confusion and conflict.

Key Information

  • Networks and integrated delivery systems

  • Affordability of services to the employer and employees
  • How to implement changes in your benefit plan
  • Employee contribution in benefit design
  • Types of incentives to direct covered persons or beneficiaries
  • Managing conflict between providers and employers
  • Cost containment strategies of insurance companies, physicians and hospitals
  • Latest federal legislation changes
  • Evaluating HMO vs PPO plans

Session Seven - May 15, 2009
Compensation & Employee Benefits
In these times of low unemployment, it is essentials for a company to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to attract and retain quality employees. Our goal is to simplify the legislation and use practical examples of appropriate workplace application, so you acquire guidelines for implementation in your organization.

Key Information

  • Federal legislation impacting compensation & benefits

  • 5 key design questions that must be considered
  • Strategies, plans, administering, record keeping
  • Retirement, disability protection, life & health insurance
  • Funding, investment, monitoring, evaluating

Session Eight - May 29, 2009
 Strategic HR Planning
This session is designed around the concept that human resources functions are an integral part of the strategic planning that occurs in successful organizations.  Each topic listed below will be discussed and developed on 3 levels.

  1. Current realities in the labor force.

  2. Strategic questions you and your company should be asking.
  3. Developing and action plan.

Key Information

  • Recruiting & retention

  • Managing diverse groups
  • Compensation & benefits
  • Labor & employee relations
  • Safety & health

Your company can only go as far as its people can take it...so why not plan for the future?

Date: February 20 - May 29, 2009   
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: Ft Smith, AR
Fee: All 8 Modules $1,595
Individual Sessions $229		  

Fee includes all materials, lunch and refreshments for morning and afternoon breaks. Parking is free.  

Register Now Online
You can also register for Human Resources Certificate-Ft Smith or any other MDI class by calling (417) 836-5667 or 1-800-733-3203 or  E-Mail MDI@missouristate.edu. 

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