How to Protect Your Business in the Midst of Policy Change

Chris Dardis

August 25, 2016

As human capital leaders, we have a responsibility to protect and grow our companies and their cultures. Usually, HR professionals rely on tactics like robust screening and interviewing processes, employee relations conversations, engagement surveys with follow up action plans, risk mitigation meetings with legal teams, and many more. But recently my eyes were opened to an additional tool that can be useful in removing road blocks to growth.

This year I was asked to participate in an HR focus group meeting regarding state policies on a few key human resource issues facing employers. Specifically, the conversation focused on challenges related to health care/health insurance costs, wage and benefit mandates, and workforce issues.

The meeting was run by two lobbyists who work for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. The audience was made up of several HR leaders from small and midsized companies from around the Twin Cities. The lobbyists took turns talking about proposed mandates in motion within our state government that would affect each of our companies.

The meeting was a wonderful opportunity to understand the pros and cons of each of the bills that are currently moving through the house and senate. Additionally, it gave HR leaders a chance to discuss changes or compromises that would shape the final outcome of any new mandates regarding family leave, medical benefit costs, and additional operation reporting requirements.

After attending this meeting, I realized that to protect our businesses, we can’t simply wait and see what healthcare premiums do in the coming year, just as we can’t blindly implement government mandates. As HR leaders we need to consistently speak with industry lobbyists and government leaders and tell them what laws we need (or don’t need) in order to advance our companies and cultures.

To learn more about how to get involved with local legislation, visit the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website and click on the “Advocacy” tab.

–> For instant access to Versique’s blogs, great career how-to articles, and industry trends, follow us on Twitter at @Versique and on LinkedIn!

Chris Dardis / About Author

Chris Dardis is the President of Versique’s Consulting division. Having both corporate leadership and agency recruiting experience, Chris has the unique ability to understand his clients’ human capital needs and offer strategic consultative solutions.

Chris has more than 19 years of combined experience within corporate HR leadership positions and the executive search and consulting industry. This experience provides Chris with the unique ability to truly understand his clients’ human capital needs and offer strategic customized solutions. Chris’s HR network in the Twin Cities is second-to-none and provide value to his candidates and clients.

To find out how Chris can help your business’ HR department achieve greater success, you can contact him by phone or email at the bottom of the page.

Chris’s Approach
Chris understands that, as baby boomers retire and millennial’s enter the workforce, there’s no denying that things are changing. As the world around us progresses, employers expect a set of work competencies that are aligned with the skill demands of the 21st century. Whether your organization is looking for additional insight, an outside eye, or someone to enhance processes and boost productivity, Chris has a deep understanding of the role HR plays in the recruiting process and what it takes for HR departments to be successful both today and tomorrow.