Want to mix things up as you advance your HR career? Add some cool ocean breezes to your professional development this year at the 2019 California HR Conference in gorgeous Long Beach, CA. We’re proud to introduce a first in HR conference history (drumroll please…) OUTDOOR LEARNING!

This year we wanted to take even more advantage of the gorgeous weather in Long Beach, and so the Sunshine Sessions came to life. These sessions will be held between the Convention Center and the Hyatt and offer you the option to sharpen your HR edge outside in the gentle ocean air.

Let’s face it, even in Southern California we don’t get outside as much as we should. Now you can enjoy a portion of your top notch, world-class HR education and unique social experiences in a brand new light (pun intended) and get a little extra vitamin D.

Read up on each of the session’s details below and register today to join the fun (and learning) in the sun!

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Five Powerful Improv Exercises to Strengthen Soft Skills

Monday, August 26th from 11:15am – 12:30pm

Presented by Viet Hoang, Partner at Pint Size Ideas

Improv training has been trending in the talent development community as an effective method for developing soft skills. The premise of improv is simple. Performers work together to create unscripted scenes, without an opportunity to plan. Improv is successful when performers listen actively, support the ideas of others, contribute information to move the scene forward, and remain flexible to changes. These are the same soft skills HR professionals seek to develop in their workforce! For organizations, improv training is creative approach to strengthening communication, collaboration, creativity and agility. In this interactive session, you’ll be out of your seat experiencing firsthand five powerful improv exercises. Learn how to implement the exercises and discover an inquiry strategy to help translate improv skills to the workplace.

Talent Management Track | HR (General) Credit

Best Practices for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace

Monday, August 26th from 2:00pm – 3:15pm 

Presented by Allison VanKuiken, Executive Director at Trans Can Work

The landscape for LGBTQ inclusion is changing every day. In the US, an estimated 1.4 million adults in the US identify as transgender. A study put out last year by the Williams Institute discovered that 27% of youth in California are identified as transgender or gender non- conforming. When thinking about younger generations, we know that in the year 2025, millennials will represent 75% of the workforce. And millennials are more than 2xs as likely to identify as LGBTQ and more likely to identify as non-binary or genderfluid than previous generations. For employers, it is no longer a matter of what to do if they have transgender employees, but a matter of preparing for when they have transgender employees. This session will provide an environment for professionals to elevate their cultural competency of transgender inclusion. Learn important human resources information about how to hire and support talented employees who are transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC). Topics covered will include: The business case for TGNC inclusion The gender spectrum & transgender identities Coming out & navigating transition in the workplace Concrete actions for employers to elevate the level of inclusion in the workplace

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Self-Awareness & Leadership: The Critical Impact of EQ on Your Results

Monday, August 26th from 4:00pm – 5:15pm

Presented by Camille McKinney, Leadership Coach and Consultant at Leveraged Leaders

Organizations invest in expensive leadership development programs, with the goal of positively impacting business results. Unfortunately, these programs are typically focused on leadership skills that are tactical, like how to manage performance, delegate tasks or write a performance review. While these tactical skills are important, these programs put little if any focus on WHO WE ARE as leaders… To up-level leadership effectiveness, consider how developing one’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can be an innovative approach to increasing personal and team effectiveness, improving employee engagement, and positively impacting overall business results.

Talent Management Track | HR (General) Credit

10 Minutes by Friday: Enhance Motivation and Accelerate Business Results

Tuesday, August 27th from 11:15am – 12:30pm

Presented by Gregg Lederman, President of Employee Engagement at Reward Gateway

Eighty-plus years of research has proven that humans CRAVE three things that enable them to become more motivated: Respect: Help me feel respected for the work I do. Purpose: Show me how what I do has purpose, makes a difference, and is relevant to the organization. Relationship: Help me build stronger connections with people, especially my immediate manager/supervisor. Lederman says, “We, as humans, love recognition, but we struggle to give enough of it. Whether we want to admit it or not, recognition plays a huge role in our everyday work lives— in our happiness, well-being, and working relationships. Learning to strategically recognize employees is the most effective and efficient way to give people what they CRAVE. Doing so leads to accelerated improvements in employee engagement and the work culture, which together inspire a more consistent customer experience.” In this highly interactive keynote, supervisors, managers, and executives commit to the 10 Minutes By Friday™ habit for giving people more of what they CRAVE! In return, they become better managers and leaders who are able to achieve the business results that matter most to their team, department, and/or organization.

Total Rewards Track | HR (General) Credit

Too Much of a Good Thing? The Perks and Pitfalls of Unlimited PTO

Tuesday, August 27th from 2:00pm – 3:15pm

Presented by Marina Galatro, Sr. HR Consultant at Gallagher

As the paid sick leave law wave continues to ripple across the country, companies are looking at ways to meet or exceed the now more than 40 different paid sick leave laws. The idea of unlimited PTO is still splashing through HR professionals’ minds as an alternative way to beat the explosion of paid sick leave laws and as a way to attract and retain talent. Need to go to Hawaii for five weeks? Yes, go — it’s paid time off! Need a “mental health” day or two (or five)? Why not — it’s paid time off! No questions asked. But before implementing such a program, is it too much of a good thing? Will it improve morale and work-life balance or will it cause fear within the organization? Is it a true total rewards element that attracts and retains top talent? What about employees who need an extended medical leave of absence? Are they paid for the full leave duration? “Unlimited” may not really mean without limits. Attend this session to learn what you should know and consider before transforming your total rewards strategy to include an unlimited paid time off program.

Professional Development Track | HR (General) Credit

Success in a New Role: How to kick a$$!

Tuesday, August 27th from 4:00pm – 5:15pm

Presented by Carol Marzouk Executive Lion Tamer, CEO at Executive Lion Tamer

Do you have new managers in your organization that were promoted because they were excellent contributors? Have you ever seen a new executive take on a role that is bigger than they can handle? Have any of your leaders felt that they were way above their head? Have YOU ever felt that way? Help yourself or your leaders make a great impression when they take on a new role and want to succeed during the crucial first 90-100 days. In this session, you will go through the steps necessary in order to help yourself and your leaders kick a$$ in their new role. Some of which include helping your boss win, getting to know your team, aligning with the key players, avoiding landmines, observing and discovering before jumping in, Creating your development plan, and Creating your plan of action.

Let’s make this official.

Join the largest local HR community in the world for HR best practices on the beach!

California HR Conference attendees enjoy:

• Advanced HR learning from nine tracks and more than 70 speakers like Stacey Lewis and Daniel Pink
• Puppies. Yes, you can play with puppies in our Expo (and adopt them for free!)
• Carefully planned lunch menus and snacks
• The music show featuring Ezra Ray Hart and standup comedy with Al Madrigal
• 3 Solutions Stages designed to make your HR life easier

Not registered yet? You still have time to register and join us! We all hope you can make it this year and look forward to seeing you.

See you in Long Beach!

Sincerely,
Team CAHR19