Fall 2026 1/2 Day RHRA SHRM Conference
About this Event
Join fellow HR professionals for a half-day conference focused on the issues, trends and challenges impacting today’s workplace.
The morning will feature a keynote presentation from Maria Serbus focused on Burnout Prevention and your Why, with practical insights HR professionals can take back to their organizations.
Attendees will also gain a closer look at the Southeast Minnesota labor market, including current workforce trends, wages, compensation and other local data that can help employers make informed recruitment and retention decisions.
An Unemployment representative will provide valuable information and participate in an interactive Q&A session, giving HR professionals an opportunity to ask questions and address real-world situations.
The conference will wrap up with an employment law update, highlighting important legal developments and issues employers and HR professionals need to be aware of.
A practical morning of timely information, local workforce insights and resources designed to help HR professionals navigate today's workplace.
Attendees will walk away with:
- Practical strategies to prevent burnout and support employee wellness in the workplace
- New ideas for improving employee engagement, retention and workplace culture
- A better understanding of the Southeast Minnesota labor market and current workforce trends
- Local wage and compensation insights to help inform recruiting and retention strategies
- Data and resources to better understand talent availability in the Rochester/SE Minnesota market
- Answers to common unemployment questions directly from an unemployment representative
- Practical guidance on handling unemployment claims and employer responsibilities
- An understanding of current employment law changes and what they mean for employers
- Key HR issues to watch as workplace regulations and expectations continue to evolve
- Actionable ideas and resources they can take back to their organization immediately
This event is sponsored by:
Howden
Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 25,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $54bn of premiums for our clients.
Howden are the world’s largest employee-owned insurance intermediary, operating across the full insurance value chain. We deliver innovative solutions in retail, specialty, wholesale, underwriting, reinsurance, and capital markets, empowering our people to drive change.
MaxAbility
Founded in 2014, MaxAbility Taskforce is a volunteer collaboration of local professionals working to promote disability-inclusive workplace cultures. We offer practical support and guidance to help employers hire, retain, and empower individuals with disabilities. We also collaborate with local organizations to put on important events that raise awareness or provide adaptive opportunities, such as our annual Reverse Job Fair.
Nice Healthcare
Nice Healthcare is unmatched care that comes to you. In a world where care costs are rising exponentially and new tools emerge every day poised to cut corners, we exist to provide meaningful, effective, human care that’s more accessible than ever before.
ARC
The Arc Minnesota provides lifelong support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages. We offer information, programs and services, peer support, and advocacy to help individuals and families make informed decisions. We also lead statewide advocacy on legislative policy to protect civil rights and strengthen policies that support inclusive education, employment, housing, and community living for all Minnesotans.
Agenda
🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:00 AM
Breakfast and Networking
Info: Fruits, pastries and coffee, tea and water will be available.
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Opening Remarks
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Maria Serbus: Burnout Prevention: Staying Rooted in Resilience & Your Why
Info: Burnout isn't just a workplace problem, it's often a disconnection problem, from purpose, from self, and from the reason the work matters in the first place. In this interactive session, Maria Serbus draws on her background as an occupational therapist and leadership educator to share evidence-based resilience tools that help HR leaders prevent burnout and stay connected to their why, even on the hardest days. Attendees will practice practical, science-backed techniques for managing stress and staying grounded under pressure, tools that protect not just their workday, but their presence in every role they hold, from leader to parent to partner. Attendees leave with tools to manage stress in the moment and to stay rooted in what matters most, at work and beyond.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Morning Break
Info: Cookies and Coffee, tea and water will be available.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Amanda Blaschko: Wages & Compensation, and other statistics in SEMN
Info: Workforce Trends & Benchmarking Your Wages
Minnesota's population is shifting, and it's changing who's available to fill jobs. This session covers the key trends behind today's labor market, then moves into a hands-on look at DEED's Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tool, a free resource employers can use to benchmark wages and stay competitive in recruiting and retention. Attendees are welcome, though not required, to bring a laptop to explore the tool live.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Aaron Tell & Team: Unemployment Law Q&As
Info: Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will provide an overview of Minnesota’s unemployment insurance system and what employers need to know when an employee separates from employment. The session will cover the unemployment process, employer responsibilities, responding to claims, eligibility considerations, and what happens when a claim is disputed or appealed.
Attendees will gain a better understanding of how unemployment decisions are made, what information employers should provide, important deadlines, and how to effectively navigate the process from the initial claim through an appeal when necessary
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
Info: Fajitas Lunch Buffet
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Greg Griffiths & Chris Coon: Employment Law Update
Info: Join experienced employment law attorneys for a practical overview of the latest developments affecting Minnesota employers. This session will highlight key changes in employment law, including paid leave, wage and hour requirements, workplace policies, employee rights, and other legal issues HR professionals should be watching.
Attendees will gain a better understanding of what has changed, what employers need to review, and how to reduce potential legal risk in the workplace.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 99.00 to USD 500.00
