NEHRA Conference Focuses on Best Practices for Becoming an Employer of Choice in a Down Economy

The third program of the Northeast Human Resource Association (NEHRA) 2008-2009 was held yesterday in Danvers, Massachusetts, where hundreds of employers in the surrounding areas took a day out of their busy schedules to learn more about Becoming an Employer of Choice- Best Practices that Drive Bottom Line Results.
One would expect the environment to be a reflection of the pressures and negative stresses of the economic climate, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the mood to be just the opposite. Sure, most HR and benefits attendees felt tired and overburdened, understaffed and without the resources they need to meet their goals- but a new wave of optimism and hope flowed through the workshops as presenters encouraged attendees to see the opportunities that lie within these challenges.
Keynote speaker, Russell J. Campanello, Senior VP of HR at Phase Forward, emphasized HR’s critical role by referring to Jack and Suzy Welch’s point that HR matters enormously in good times… and it defines you in the bad. And while it’s still crucial to treat departing employees with respect and empathy, it is also time to begin strategizing ways to maintain engagement among the surviving workforce who are expected to do more with less. These challenges are great, but so are the opportunities to re-engage your culture, and rebound as a stronger organization both inside and out.
The day featured well-received presentations about becoming an employer of choice in a down economy, keeping employees engaged, maximizing the productivity and development of your workforce, and an emerging trend; aligning your internal and external branding initiatives to create a more transparent, sustainable culture. After all, as social networking continues to grow, so does employee power to voice opinions about their organization- both good and bad. This provides your partners, prospects and customers with a front row seat to your corporate culture.
As the conference came to a close, confidence grew among attendees who seemed eager to return work the next morning armed with new tools and techniques to begin influencing a stronger, more employee-centered culture. This is good news to all the HR professionals who have been waiting for the opportunity to drive real organizational change through what continues to be their most valuable resource- their people.