August Advocacy Strategy

Recardo Gibson - Member Advocacy Specialist

©SHRM 2007

Overview

• What to expect

• How to conduct a Day Inside the District meeting

• Summary of Issues to be discussed during meetings

• Tips and tactics

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©SHRM 2007

What to Expect

• Even though members of Congress are back in their home districts, expect a busy August schedule. In some cases, you may only be able to meet with their staff.

• When meeting with the Member or his/her staff, expect an unfamiliarity with the HR profession. It is your job during the DITD meetings to explain HR’s role in the workplace and how these issue impact your daily duties.

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How to Conduct a Day Inside the District (DITD) Meeting

Select a meeting leader to provide:Select a meeting leader to provide:

• Group introduction

• SHRM introduction

• Issue introduction

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August Advocacy Strategy

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West Virginia SHRM members meet with West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin during a DITD event earlier this

year.

©SHRM 2007

August Advocacy Strategy

Issues to Cover in District MeetingsIssues to Cover in District Meetings

1. Employee Free Choice Act

2. Workplace Flexibility

3. New Employee Verification Act

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©SHRM 2007

August Advocacy Strategy

Employee Free Choice Act: Key PointsEmployee Free Choice Act: Key Points

• SHRM believes Federal government-supervised private ballot elections are generally the best way to choose to join a union

• SHRM believes mandatory binding arbitration would impose unwanted employment conditions on both employees and employers

• Under EFCA, employees would simultaneously lose their rights to vote on union representation and to approve workplace contracts

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August Advocacy Strategy

Workplace Flexibility: Key PointsWorkplace Flexibility: Key Points

• SHRM opposes the Healthy Families Act because it represents an unworkable, one-size-fits-all government mandate

• SHRM believes employers should offer voluntary paid sick leave, as employers are best situated to know the benefit preferences of their workforce

• SHRM welcomes dialogue and debate on a workplace flexibility policy for the 21st Century

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August Advocacy Strategy

Employment Verification: Key PointsEmployment Verification: Key Points

• Fixing the federal employment verification system by establishing a reliable and efficient state-of-the-art electronic system is the only way to guarantee a legal workforce

• H.R. 2028 provides a new, user-friendly electronic employment verification system by replacing the current paper-based and error-prone method of verifying employment eligibility  

• SHRM encourages members of the House to cosponsor H.R. 2028, the New Employee Verification Act

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Your Advantage in DITD MeetingsYour Advantage in DITD Meetings

• You are the expert on how these issues impact the workplace

• Only 2 out of 535 Members of Congress have an HR background

• You deal with these issues on a daily basis, and understand their real world implications

• You are their constituent, and represent employers throughout the state

Tips and Tactics

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Remember you are representing SHRM and your organization

Clearly explain what impact the proposed legislation will have on your workplace

Use workplace experiences that relate to the issue – tell your personal story

State your position- for or against the legislation

Ask official/staff to state their position on the issue

Tips and Tactics

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Thank them for their time and offer to be a resource in the future

Leave supporting documents

Leave a business card and ask for the staff member’s business card

Follow up – send a short thank you note that reiterates your position

Maintain the relationship you just created

Tips and Tactics