NOVEMBER 2025

Valley Society for Human Resource Management (VSHRM) serves the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond, supporting HR professionals through education, networking, and leadership development. We’re your local resource for HR knowledge, community, and growth. Learn more and get involved at https://vshrm.shrm.org/



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VSHRM is streaming our speakers live to four locations. Saginaw follows our usual monthly meeting format with a $30 registration fee, including the full event experience and catered lunch. Mt. Pleasant at CMU, East Tawas at Michigan Works!, and Flint at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library are free to attend—bring your own lunch. A virtual option is available for a small fee.

We have experienced technical challenges in recent months and are actively working through them. We are confident our November meeting will proceed smoothly at all locations. Select the location most convenient for you, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Valley SHRM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification activities.

MEETING & REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Please register by Thursday, November 6th. Registrations received after this date are subject to an additional $10 late fee (Horizon's Conference Center location only).

This meeting is part of the 2025-2026 Fast Pass! If you have VSHRM's Fast Pass and attending this meeting, please register today!

President's Message

As we observe Veterans Day, I’m reminded of the strength of our HR community — professionals who lead with purpose and heart. As HR leaders, we honor those who have served by creating workplaces that value their skills, support their transitions, and celebrate their contributions.

VSHRM had a tremendous showing at the sold-out MISHRM State Conference! It was inspiring to be among over 1,000 HR professionals from across Michigan, all dedicated to growth and connection. A special congratulations to Ricardo Resio, nominated for the HR Lifetime Achievement Award — a well-deserved honor for his leadership and commitment to HR excellence. Thank you to the MISHRM Planning Committee, our VSHRM volunteers, and all participants who made this year’s conference such an exceptional event.

As we move toward our Dual Membership Release (DMR) transition on December 8, we’ll continue sharing updates and answering questions. If you have any questions on how our transition to DMR impacts you, complete this form https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VSHRM-DMR or reach out to me directly. 

Our December 9 meeting marks the start of our annual charity drive in Saginaw, and our January 13, 2026, seminar promises to be an interactive, energizing start to the year —think movement, participation, and fun as we kick off the new year together.

Our goal at VSHRM is to build a lasting legacy and continue serving as an invaluable resource to HR professionals throughout the Great Lakes Region and beyond. If you know an HR professional who isn’t yet connected with Valley SHRM, please share our information and encourage them to reach out to any of our board members — we’d love to welcome them!

Thank you for all you do to strengthen our profession, our chapter, and our shared mission. Below is a picture of VSHRM members at the MISHRM event!

Wendy Yelsik, PHR, SHRM-CP

Human Resources Director | Fabiano Brothers, Inc.

President, Valley SHRM

📱 (989) 621-4819

🔗 LinkedIn

VSHRM + SHRM Together:

December 8, 2025!

🎉 Join us in welcoming our newest VSHRM members! 🎉

We're thrilled to welcome these professionals into the VSHRM community:

• Kari Peckham – ServePro Team Miller
• Dr. Shilpa Alamuri – Central Michigan University
• Emily Starke – Covenant Healthcare

Your expertise and passion for HR make our network stronger, and we can't wait to collaborate, learn and grow together. Here's to building meaningful connections and driving positive impact - welcome aboard!

The winner of the October Gift Card Drawing is…

(drum roll, please 🥁) Paramount rehabilitation

Abby Kuch – Paramount Rehabilitation

Congratulations! 🏆

Thank you to everyone who participated—your involvement makes these drawings exciting. Stay tuned for November’s chance to win!



👉 To be eligible for the drawing, meeting attendees must respond to the survey and provide their name.

COLLEGE RELATIONS NEWS!

SHRM + Valley SHRM: Your HR Advantage, Every Day.

Stay ahead in an evolving HR landscape where AI, compliance shifts, and workplace expectations are constantly transforming. SHRM membership equips you with the tools and insights you need to lead with confidence and make an impact.

From Ask an Advisor and ready-to-use templates to compliance updates, certification prep, and a nationwide HR network, SHRM membership provides resources that save time and strengthen your work. Pair your SHRM membership with Valley SHRM to unlock even more local connections and support.

Trusted by 95% of the Fortune 500, SHRM empowers HR professionals to lead—not follow. At just $0.82 a day, it’s an investment in your career that pays dividends in value and expertise. Join nearly 340,000 members shaping the future of work.

👉 New Professional members save 50% off with code NewMembersOnly when joining SHRM + a local chapter. **BE SURE TO SELECT VALLEY SHRM AS YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER**

If your membership has expired, renewing today ensures you’ll continue to enjoy these valuable resources—and stay connected to the tools and community that make HR easier.

https://www.shrm.org/shop/membership#membership

📱 VSHRM Now Offers Text Updates!



Stay in the loop with the latest VSHRM news, events, and reminders—right on your phone!

Sign up for our text list here:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/amKEpE4

DOL Issues Opinion Letter Clarifying How

to Calculate FMLA Leave

On September 30, 2025, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released an opinion letter clarifying how an employer should calculate leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) for employees whose schedules include mandatory overtime. DOL issued the letter in response to a request from an employer asking for clarification on how to calculate the 12-week FMLA leave entitlement for employees who were mandated to work 84 hours every two weeks. 

In the letter, the DOL specified that leave entitlement under the FMLA is based on an employee’s actual scheduled weekly hours, or, in cases where an employee’s schedule varies from week to week, the weekly average of hours scheduled over the 12 months prior to the beginning of the leave period. The letter provides the following examples: “where an employee otherwise would work 30 hours per workweek, the employee is entitled to 360 hours of leave per leave year (30 hours per workweek multiplied by 12 workweeks) . . . an employee who works 60 hours per workweek will be entitled to 720 hours (60 hours per workweek multiplied by 12 workweeks).” 

The letter confirms that if an employee is regularly scheduled to work mandatory overtime hours, those hours are to be taken into account when calculating FMLA leave entitlement. Thus, employees regularly scheduled to work 84 hours every two weeks were entitled to 504 hours of FMLA leave (i.e., the employee’s 12 workweeks of leave in a 12-month period were equivalent to 504 hours). By comparison, hours an employee is not required to work (but may volunteer to work) are not included when calculating leave entitled under the FMLA. 

In addition to clarifying that regularly scheduled overtime is included when determining the number of hours of FMLA leave available to an employee, the DOL’s recent letter provides helpful guidance to employers for calculating available FMLA leave hours. Letter included above - provided by Masud Law's, David Bryce.

Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities (CFCC) is a national family foundation dedicated to strengthening relationships, improving workplaces, and building stronger communities.

Whether it’s a parent learning to connect more deeply with their child, a team member navigating workplace dynamics, or a community leader working to foster trust across neighborhoods, CFCC meets people where they are. CFCC equips them with the skills to lead with empathy, communicate clearly, and build meaningful relationships. CFCC believes that human flourishing happens when people feel seen, valued, and heard at home, at work, and in the community.

Want More Training?

If you are looking for a collaborative in-person training experience, check out these local series available with Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities, HERE!

Connect with Dennis Beson to learn more: Connect on LinkedIn

Michigan Career Educator & Employer Alliance (MCEEA) promotes and maximizes career potential and the advancement of internship, cooperative education, and employment within the state of Michigan through collaborative relationships among employers, colleges and universities.

If you would like to learn more about MCEEA's partnership and resources available to you, check out their Holiday Mixer in Frankenmuth, December 4 - 5, 2025. Thursday, December 4, from 5:30PM - 7:30PM is a Networking Event, while Friday, December 5, fills your day with more - plus food from the Bavarian Inn Lodge (yum!). You can register HERE!

FINANCIALS - Submitted by Patty Alfano, VSHRM Treasurer