Portland Human Resource Management Association August Luncheon

A committee I work on with PHRMA is hosting an amazing luncheon on August 15th. The theme is political advocacy with some legislative updates as well. The guest speakers will be discussing how to affect the legislative process. The event will have some great guest speakers with a lot of experience in Oregon employment legislation.

This should be a really great lunch and discussion. Additional details below and in this link.

Portland Human Resource Management Association

August Luncheon, August 15, 2012, 11:30am – 1:00pm

Portland Doubletree Hotel – Lloyd Center

Member – $25, PHRMA Members & members of affiliate organizations, Guest – $40 non-members

Register – www.portlandhrma.org (Calendar of Events)

The Inner Workings of Oregon’s Legislative Process

Session Summary:

Human Resource and business professionals are challenged with running their organizations while keeping current on changing laws that have a large impact on the businesses they operate. Have you wondered if you can influence the legislative process? Well, you can! Our panel discussion will answer the following questions.

• How to have real influence within the legislative process?
• What creates positive or negative impact with your legislators?
• How can you leverage communication channels such as social media, email, phone calls and letter writing to have your voice heard?
• When is the best time to schedule a visit with your legislator?

There will be time for a Q&A at the end of panel discussion. However, have a question you would like to be included on the panel, please send your questions to Programs@PortlandHRMA.org and we will do our best to accommodate them into the panel discussion.

HRCI recertification credit pending.

Panelist

Chris Garrett has represented Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland in the Oregon House of Representatives since January 2009.  Chris grew up in Portland and graduated from Reed College.  He went on to earn his law degree at the University of Chicago Law School and clerk at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City.  Since 2002, Chris has practiced law with the Portland law firm of Perkins Coie.  He also served as Senior Policy Advisor to Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney. Chris currently serves as the Co-Chair of the House Committee on Business and Labor.  He also serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Rules Committee.

JL Wilson is the Vice President of Government Affairs for Associated Oregon Industries.  AOI is Oregon’s largest statewide business association.  JL grew up in Grants Pass and graduated from Willamette University.  He was the Legislative Director for two Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives before becoming the Oregon State Director of the small business group NFIB in 1999.  In his 13 years as a lobbyist and advocate for Oregon employers, JL has helped numerous companies and business associations accomplish their public policy objectives.  JL currently manages the government affairs and political operations of AOI.  His lobbying efforts focus specifically on representing Oregon companies on employment law and tax issues before the legislature and state agencies.

Moderator Bio:

Randall Sutton is the 2012 Director of the SHRM Oregon State Council.  Randall has also served as the SHRM Legislative Affairs Director for the SHRM Oregon State Council and the SHRM Salem Chapter for many years.  Randall practices management-side employment law at the Saalfeld Griggs business law firm in Salem Oregon. As Chair of the firm’s Employment Law & Litigation Practice Group, he advises employers and handles claims brought by current and former employees.  Randall also has considerable experience litigating noncompete and trade secret cases involving former employees.  A frequent public speaker on employment legal issues, Randall tries to bring a practical approach to employment law compliance.

August Luncheon Sponsors (The Commerce Company, The Columbian/Monster)  

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Workplace Bulletin Board Best Practices

Some employers have a bulletin board that employees can post items of interest like vacation post cards, art and such. Often these are not policed and employers would only take down material if it was inflammatory or in violation of a policy. That being said, most employment attorneys would say that employers should prevent employees from posting personal items up there because once you start its hard to defend making editorial decisions of what is up there. For example if you let employee X post about their side business or school bake sale, its difficult (and maybe an unfair labor practice) to prevent an employee from posting about their own union organizing event.

The central point is that when you let employees post personal items on a bulletin board you need to be prepared to accept material you may not like. In other words be consistent and enforce the rules you establish equally.

In Notarial News

Notary fees in Oregon are going up.  But your local bank will still notarize documents for free usually.   I posted the news release from the Oregon Secretary of State office below.

“Measure 67 makes the Notary Public program self-supporting.
The first fee increase since 1989, more than 20 years ago, has been granted to make the Notary Public programs self-sustaining. Beginning February 27, 2010, the measure increases the fee to apply for a 4-year notary public commission from $20 to $40. The average fee charged in other states is $33. Since 1989, the Corporation Division has developed and distributed the Notary Public Guide, conducted regular live seminars throughout the state, an online notary tutorial, and a notary education vendor approval program, for no additional charge.

This is not to be confused with our previous announcement:

As authorized by 2009 HB 2085, beginning January 1, 2010 notaries may charge up to $10 for each notarial act. These fees may be turned over to an employer – public agencies and private businesses – by agreement.

So, it will cost $40 to be commissioned for 4 years, but a notary may then charge clients $10 per notarization. “

I guess that is nice that the notary program is now self supporting.  If you are in Oregon and want to become a Notary do it fast!

The best option like most educational choices, get your current employer to pay for it.

Reduce Taxes By Owning Property?

Many people erroneously view owning property as an increase to their tax burden. The constitutional amendment Measure 50 approved by Oregon voters in 1997 ties property taxes to assessed value as opposed to market value. This causes property taxes to only increase three percent per-year, which means that your assessed value is still most likely below the market price.

Even despite property tax increases, there are still many tax advantages to owning a home. For example a homeowner with a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of $200,000 could expect to pay about $10,000 in interest, with an additional $2,400 in property taxes. By itemizing these payments on a Schedule A, they can reduce their taxable income by $12,400. The homeowner’s gain is even higher if appreciation on the property is added.

In the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, a first-time homebuyer is currently entitled to a $8,000 tax credit. This credit will reduce taxes or even provide a refund unless the home ceases to be the homeowner’s principal residence within three years from the date of purchase. In addition, a long-time homeowner may now qualify for a $6,500 credit if a replacement home is purchased after November 6th, 2009. This creates a credit for divorced individuals buying new homes.

If you are planning to buy a home in the near future, be sure to calculate the amounts of appreciation and tax savings. Just remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how home ownership might be applied to taxes and income. You should always consult with a tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.

Special thanks to Lori Manley (LoriM@Cascaderm.com) at Cascade Mortgage for additional tips.