Human Resources (HR) executives from both national and independent AFSA member companies participated in the AFSA HR Committee Forum, held May 3-4, 2006. Committee Chair, Holly Dierks, Director, HR, U.S. and Canada, John Deere Credit, led the forum. Its overall purpose was to discuss current challenges facing HR personnel in the financial services industry.

The program began with a presentation on National Trends and Legal Issues Impacting Human Resources Management, which was led by Joseph T. Clees, Esq., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart, P.C. Clees shared important recent U.S. Supreme Court and key federal court rulings as well as key regulatory developments that impact HR. Trends identified and discussed included the expansion of employer negligence standards and liability relating to identity theft, employee access of the Internet, appearance discrimination, religion issues, protection of employees attending protest rallies under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and military leave regulations.

Several committee members provided presentations on specific programs they were initiating in their own companies. For example, Holly Dierks discussed the new John Deere Credit program for engagement and retention of managers; Mike Haynie shared information about 1st Franklin Financial Corporation's paperless payroll system, partnering with Directo Pay Cards; and Steve Nesbitt, provided information on HSBC Finance Corporation's Corporate University Xchange program to review training capabilities and compare market best practices. In addition, Steve Blake provided information regarding American General Financial Services' corporate initiative to prepare for a possible pandemic of bird flu including education and communication, health and hygiene, business unit preparation, disaster recovery, technology, facilities (e.g. access and cleaning) and policy and procedures. Sources of information provided include the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and PandemicFlu.gov.

The meeting's second day included a Roundtable Discussion, sharing issues of concern and policies/procedures provided by committee members. These included:

• Formal policies regarding employee volunteering for community service.
• Employee affinity group networks
• Leadership development programs
• Human Capital Management Systems
• Health savings and health reimbursement accounts
• Recruiting tactics
• Policies regarding domestic partners