AUGUST 2022

CareerSource Central Florida Unites with Local Businesses Offering Workforce Solutions to Help Individuals During Opioid Recovery

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 8, 2022) – CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF), Florida’s second largest regional workforce board, announces it has teamed up with local businesses in the region to provide workforce solutions to HR professionals and employers to help support, and integrate into the local workforce, individuals recovering from opioid addiction. 

The opioid epidemic has been fueled by COVID-19. According to some of the latest research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , more than 105,000 Americans died of an overdose in the 12 months ending in October 2021 – the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in 12 months.   

In 2020, CareerSource Central Florida received $2.7M from the state of Florida to bring awareness to the opioid crisis and provide crucial training to businesses to aid job seekers and workers who have been impacted by opioid addiction. Utilizing funds from the grant, CareerSource Central Florida launched “Fostering Opioid Recovery through Training & Employment” (FORTE) together with Project Opioid – a four-year initiative that has to date reached more than 900 Central Florida businesses and individuals.

Today, CareerSource Central Florida along with Project Opioid, the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (ICARE) , Advanced Recovery Systems (ARS), the Greater Orlando Society of Human Resources Management (GOSHRM) and others are seamlessly working to provide training, certifications and educational offerings to local employers.  These efforts are equipping HR professionals with skills and tools to support current employees and potential new candidates impacted by opioid addiction along their recovery journey to return to the workplace.

READ MORE...

May 2022

GREATER ORLANDO SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCES Awarded
For Elevating Human Resources, Improving Workplaces

Orlando, Florida, May, 2022 — SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) recently awarded the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resources its prestigious EXCEL Bronze Award for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’s accomplishments in 2021.

The EXCEL award is given to state councils and chapters to recognize major accomplishments, strategic activities, and tactical initiatives that elevate the profession of human resources.

December 16, 2021

substance abuse got worse amid the pandemic and remote work

By  Lin Grensing-Pophal

Use of recreational drugs is common during the remote workday.

When COVID-19 emerged in early 2020, millions of employees suddenly found themselves working from home—and many will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It's a situation that benefits many but has a dangerous potential downside for others.

Amid the pandemic, mental health and substance use disorders have worsened, in some cases significantly. Of particular concern is the rising rate of opioid addiction and related deaths.

A Rising Problem

Subscription drug addiction isn't new, but synthetic substances such as fentanyl have compounded the situation, said Pam Nabors, president and CEO of staffing agency CareerSource Central Florida, which has partnered with the Department of Labor to help HR professionals handle employees' addiction issues.

...

Helping Employers Help Employees

Employers and HR professionals are key to addressing the opioid crisis that's affecting the workplace, CareerSource Central Florida believes. It recently launched Fostering Opioid Recovery through Training & Employment (FORTE), a four-year initiative focused on engaging businesses and individuals affected by the opioid crisis.

The staffing agency is also working with the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) to bring HR professionals together to discuss the best ways to tackle the crisis through the workplace, such as by raising awareness, reducing the stigma that prevents employees from seeking help, and offering assistance to employees who may be experiencing addiction or caring for others who are.

"COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem and greatly impacted those in the workforce, including front-line and remote workers," Cheryl Brown Merriwether, president of GOSHRM and vice president and executive director for the Orlando-based International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (ICARE), recently told Orlando Medical News. "HR professionals are paying close attention to employee benefits that include services to identify and address the problem of workplace addiction."

October 22, 2021

UNDERCOVER HR

By: Jathan Janove, J.D

When Pamela J. McGee, SHRM-CP, accepted an offer to become vice president of HR at The Father's Table, a national dessert manufacturer in Sanford, Fla., she decided to begin the job by going undercover.

"My background was in retail, not manufacturing," she said. "I wanted to get a sense of what life was like on a manufacturing floor."

McGee attended the new-hire orientation conducted by a staffing agency. She then went out on the floor and began to work just like everyone else. No one there, including the supervisors and managers on shift, knew she was the new vice president of HR.

During her one-week undercover stint, McGee learned invaluable information that has led to several beneficial changes. One of the biggest changes has been in communication.

"Frankly, we were falling short," McGee said. "We needed to do a much better job in communicating to new hires what to expect. For example, we make cheesecakes. There are two overall manufacturing units. In one area, the temperature is kept at 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while in the other, where baking takes place, it can reach over 90 degrees in the summer months."

Read the full article here...

Pamela J. McGee, SHRM-CP, meets SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo in Las Vegas in September.

OCTOBER 21, 2021

THE VACCINE MANDATE ARRIVES SOON. ARE YOU READY?

By: Dom Nicastro

The U.S. federal government vaccine mandate is rolling out soon, according to industry experts. That means private companies with 100 or more employees will either have to require employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or produce a weekly negative COVID-19 test.

And like most digital workplace efforts, it’s going to take clear communication and sound technology practices for vaccine and testing program management.

“Be clear this is about ensuring everyone’s health and safety and that protecting your team, their families, and your customers is your No. 1 priority,” said Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, a New York City-based public relations firm.

HRIS Does the Tracking Trick

Meanwhile, some organizations have already rolled out a vaccine mandate on their own. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, a non-profit food bank and a member of the Feeding America network, is one of them. The Orlando-based food bank has about 150 employees serving six counties. It includes four physical sites: two in Orlando, one in Daytona Beach and one in Melbourne.

Given its size, it would be on the hook for compliance with the forthcoming U.S. vaccine mandate but already has a process in place. Amy Lein, chief human resources officer at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, said management of vaccination status, ongoing testing and any other accommodations are handled by the human resources department.

The company’s human resource information system (HRIS) is used to upload each employee's vaccination status, and a spreadsheet is kept with a record of vaccination dates in anticipation of the necessity of tracking boosters or subsequent data. “All information is stored confidentially, similar to any medical information for an employee,” Lein said.

Like many non-profits, Second Harvest also works with an army of volunteers, numbering in the thousands over the course of a year. They're tracking volunteers' vaccination status, as well.

Read more here...

October 16, 2021

GOSHRM is awarded the Chapter of Excellence Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - in recognition of contributions to the human resource profession that exemplifies core leadership.

WHY THE AREA'S LARGEST WORKFORCE IS LOST IN A FOG?

Here's how #Orlando's #tourism industry is dealing with mass #unemployment. #jobs #Florida #localbusiness #businessnews

...

Framing it right

Workers also may need to rewire the way they think to find that next job.

So said Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, president of the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management.

Techniques in translating skill sets to other industries will be critical in job searches, as well as leading unemployed workers to find other means — including volunteering — in both office and non-office environments to maximize marketing their skills, she said.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE...

CHERYL BROWN-MERRIWETHER

PRESIDENT

MARCH 2021

I was honored to represent the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) during the 2021 Future of Workforce event hosted by the Orlando Business Journal on February 4. Two interactive panels featuring industry leaders offered best practices for addressing myriad pandemic-related challenges, the current state of the regional workforce, creating a path for economic recovery, and the creation of jobs. Most, if not all, Central Florida businesses are operating in a new normal: new legislation, new ways we engage with our employees, and new ways services are offered. My contributions to the event emphasized empathy and tactical solutions for physical office space. GOSHRM, which represents more than 325 area HR professionals, served as a partner for  the power-packed event. Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, was elected president in October – the first Black president in the organizations 60-year history.

“Our members, workplaces, and community, and others worldwide, have suffered tremendously because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brown-Merriwether. “I empathize with the life experiences of our members and appreciate the positive impact that our association has on meeting their needs, the needs of those organizations that employ them and the collective HR needs of Central Florida.” Gaby Ortigoni of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce served as a panelist for the event, and at one point suggested we should all want to do business the right way. GOSHRM agrees and can help your organization do just that in this new normal. 

You can visit us at www.goshrm.org or contact me at pastpresident@goshrm.org for more information. Lastly, I’d like to offer special thanks to GOSHRM partner Roger Lear and the team at Orlando Jobs for their regional workforce insights

which we were able to offer during the event.

A replay of the event can be found at https://bizj.us/1q8o51 .

NATE SHANNON

IMMEDIATE-PAST PRESIDENT

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased concerns about employee well-being, mental health and substance abuse.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reported spikes in fatal opioid overdoses last year and ongoing concern about mental illness or substance use disorders in connection with COVIS-19.  The council called on employers to prioritize employee stress and emotional and mental health, both now and as employees return to traditional work environments. ...

PUTTING THE HUMAN BACK IN HUMAN RESOURCES

Compliance concerns have dominated approaches to the workforce.  HR professionals have long sought the advice of legal counsel and consultants to ensure strict adherence to rules, according to Cheryl Brown Merriwether , vice president and executive director of the International Center for Addiction &Recovery  (ICARE) and president of Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM).

Unfortunately, for many reasons, the line between personal and professional, home and work has grown ever harder to identify. And, beginning in March 2020, as a direct result of COVID-19, “the demarcation has been completely obliterated,” Brown Merriwether said.

How can HR professionals best work within these parameters? By being more human. HR can incorporate the services of non-clinical yet trained professionals such as health, wellness and recovery coaches or others, such as addiction awareness facilitators, she said.

GREATER ORLANDO SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (GOSHRM) ANNOUNCES 2021 LEADERSHIP TEAM; PRESIDENT CHERYL BROWN-MERRIWETHER SHARES VISION FOR BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) announces the appointment of its 2021 Board of Directors. Presiding over the new Board is GOSHRM President, Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CRPC, who is Vice President and Executive Director of the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education™ (ICARE).

ORLANDO, Fla. (PRWEB) February 02, 2021 -- The Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) announces the appointment of its 2021 Board of Directors. Presiding over the new Board is GOSHRM President, Cheryl Brown-Merriwether, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CPRC.

In addition to her GOSHRM responsibilities, Brown-Merriwether is Vice President and Executive Director of the International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education™ (ICARE). Based in Orlando, ICARE is a Center of Excellence for developing programs to overcome today’s unprecedented societal challenges of substance misuse and addiction. For 20 years, Brown-Merriwether worked in HR leadership positions for AT&T where she focused on organizational development. She is the first black woman to be named president of GOSHRM, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017.

Other members of GOSHRM’s newly appointed 2021 Executive Committee include Steve Holland, SHRM-CP, MHR, PHR (Director of Finance), Pam McGee. SHRM-CP, PHR, MBA (Secretary), and Nate Shannon SHRM-SCP, SPHR (Immediate Past President). The complete list of Board members can be found here.

“GOSHRM represents an incredibly diverse and highly talented group of HR professionals. I am honored to work with my team to serve the Orlando business community on all things HR-related,” noted Brown-Merriwether.

According to Shannon, Brown-Merriwether is well-equipped to lead the chapter into the future. “She has a fantastic blend of professional leadership, board experience, and heart – enabling her to support our members as they pursue a culture of empathy and trust in their businesses,” said Shannon.

PRESIDENT’S VISION

GOSHRM’s mission is to elevate people and workplaces through education, connections and service. This year GOSHRM’s educational programs and community activities will shine a spotlight on the “human” aspect of HR to create a positive workplace environment for both employees and employers. Given the magnitude of the pandemic and the unprecedented historical events facing our modern workforce and society, GOSHRM is deeply committed to fulfilling this mission in 2021.

“GOSHRM members, workplaces, and community, and others worldwide, have suffered tremendously because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brown-Merriwether. “I empathize with the life experiences of our members and appreciate the positive impact that our association has on meeting their needs, the needs of those organizations that employ them and the collective HR needs of Central Florida.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Exemplifying GOSHRM’s active involvement in Orlando’s business community, Shannon was invited to be a panelist on an upcoming interactive virtual conference. “2021 Future of Workforce,” is sponsored by the Orlando Business Journal and will be held on Thursday, February 4, 1:00 – 3:00pm ET. Panelists will discuss Central Florida's workforce challenges and explore long-term solutions needed to address them. Register here.

ABOUT GOSHRM

Founded in 1957, the Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) has 335 members in the greater Orlando area, and currently is the fifth largest chapter in the State of Florida. GOSHRM’s mission is to elevate people and workplaces through education, connections and service. GOSHRM’s vision is to make Central Florida a workplace destination of choice. GOSHRM is the only Society for Human Resource Management affiliated chapter in the greater Orlando area. For more information visit http://www.goshrm.org.

Cheryl Brown-Merriwether

PRESIDENT

Nate Shannon

IMMEDIATE-PAST PRESIDENT

Author: