 President's Message
by Ann Maynard
This is my last week as the President of the Genesee Valley Chapter SHRM. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to help grow our Chapter. Our work to develop, educate, empower, and advocate for HR professionals across our 9-county region is deeply meaningful to me. I will very much miss the daily contact with our membership along with my amazing board, advisory council members and volunteers.
Through the years of my work with our Chapter, I have given a lot of advice and counsel and now I am taking some of my own. I have often told members that they have to step into risk and challenge to really achieve growth and find their full potential. This is my goal with this next step in my career development. I am grateful to be able to continue to serve GVC SHRM as a board member in 2019.
Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me during my tenure as President. In particular, I want to thank Howard Cotton and Joanne Schneider, who have been incredible colleagues and mentors. Their deep passion for people, family, and work, are palpable and makes each person who meets them strive to be better. I feel so lucky to know both of them.
And I thank each of you for the years of being able to work alongside you. Here’s to a wonderful 2019!
With gratitude,
Ann Maynard
President
Genesee Valley Chapter SHRM
annmaynard@gvcshrm.org
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2018 Upcoming Programs
- January 16th: HR Budgets, Developing Your Financial Plan
- February 13th: Annual Legal Update
- March Date TBD: The Investigation Process, HR and Legal Perspective
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Turning 65? Helping Employees Navigate the Medicare Maze
by Barbara Rhodes
The first of the 76 million baby boomers turned 65 in January of 2011, and approximately 10,000 boomers will reach that milestone every day between now and 2034. As more Baby Boomers approach age 65, they are confronting the complexities of making first-time Medicare enrollment decisions. As a result, many employer groups are faced with the challenge of helping employees navigate the Medicare maze.
What you should know:
Medicare offers a number of options for eligible beneficiaries, which consists of four major programs:
- Part A: covers hospitalization
- Part B: covers professional services
- Part C: is Medicare Advantage, that is a combination of parts A and B, as-well-as additional benefits, often times with no additional premium
- Part D: covers prescription medications
Enrollment in Medicare begins three months before turning 65 and continues for seven months. If the beneficiary is receiving Social Security benefits, they are automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. Otherwise, the beneficiary may contact the Social Security Administration to enroll at (800) 772-1213, or online at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly/. It is best to apply as early as possible so coverage can begin when turning 65.
Most workers probably should enroll in Medicare Part A, which is free for many people. Individuals who don't sign up for Part B when they first become eligible can pay a 10% penalty for each year that enrollment is delayed. However, there is an exception. Enrolment in Part B while working, depends on how many employees are working for the employer. If the employer group has 20 or more employees, the beneficiary has the option to enroll in Part B, as Medicare will be considered a secondary payer. The employee of this employer group will have a special election period, lasting eight months after retiring, to enroll in Medicare without a penalty. It is when an employer group has fewer than 20 employees that enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B is considered essential. If the beneficiary does not enroll, they will have to pay out of pocket for anything that Medicare would have covered. Note that COBRA coverage does not count as a health insurance plan for Medicare purposes.
Turning 65 is a critical period for Medicare beneficiaries to decide on coverage options. Appropriate guidance is crucial when making first-time Medicare decisions to ensure that proper coverage is in place and to avoid future penalties.
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Struggling to Find Qualified Candidates?
Betty Richardson
With unemployment so low and competition for employees so high, many organizations are having difficulty filling open requisitions. GVC SHRM is partnering with ACCES-VR (Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation) to assist in identifying qualified candidates who happen to have a disability. ACCES-VR functions within the NYS Department of Education with a sole focus on assisting people with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation and career development.
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is two to three times higher than that of people with no disabilities. There are a few myth surrounding hiring people with disabilities:
- Hiring people with disabilities always involves expensive accommodations. In most cases there is no need for an accommodation; the candidate is fully capable of performing the role at or above expectations. If an accommodation is needed, there is often no cost to the employer or minimal cost (56% of accommodations cost nothing, and when there is a cost, the average was $500).
- People with disabilities can only fill entry level, manual jobs. This could not be further from the truth! In the last year, the local ACCES-VR assisted companies in filling nearly 1,000 openings including the following positions: Engineer, RN, LPN, CNA, Computer Systems Analyst, Mechanic, Machinist, Customer Service Rep and Teacher (and there are many more!).
We believe that all people should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. As a vehicle to achieve this as well as assist our membership in addressing this key business issue (a Win-Win situation) we ask that you add one step to your recruiting process. Contact Jennifer Geiger of ACCES-VR with your open positions, so that she can identify qualified candidates that you may consider in your recruiting process. There is no cost or obligation for this service. Jennifer's contact information is: Jennifer.Geiger@nysed.gov or 585-238-2949.
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Join more than 500 HR professionals from around the region
who rely on GVCSHRM for their HR solutions.
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Spring 2019 Certification Preparation Workshop
GVC SHRM News
Learn with your peers to earn your credential at our renowned workshop!
Understand and apply the material tested on the following exams:
CP, SCP, HR Certification Institute, aPHR, HR, SPHR.
Register now!! Our Chapter's Study Group space fills quickly. Limit 15 registrants. Registration deadline is January 8, 2019.
For more information contact Ann Maynard, SPHR, SHRM-SCP by calling 585-969-1472 or email annmaynard@gvcshrm.org.
Find out more about the SHRM-CP and SCP Certification at www.shrmcertification.com. aPHR/PHR/SPHR certification at www.hrci.org.
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