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HR LUNCH BUNCH

Lunch Bunch is our free monthly webinar series designed to keep you informed, inspired, and connected. Held during the lunch hour, these sessions are led by seasoned professionals who bring expertise, clarity, and a touch of humor to even the most complex workplace topics. Each session is presented in a casual, conversational style—more like a thoughtful discussion with colleagues than a formal training. We cover timely issues facing today’s workplaces, share real-world scenarios, and offer practical takeaways you can put to use right away. Whether you’re deep in HR or just brushing up on best practices, Lunch Bunch is a great way to explore fresh ideas, learn from others, and stay current—without giving up your whole day. So grab your lunch, log in, and join us for a smart, approachable conversation that makes HR feel a little more human.

Managing Employee Transitions with Confidence

August 6, 2025 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Deborah Jeffries, SHRM-CP, SCP, CPC | Free

Whether it’s a promotion, department shift, or a departure from the organization, employee transitions are inevitable—and how you handle them can make all the difference. A well-managed transition safeguards productivity, preserves morale, and protects institutional knowledge. This discussion explores practical strategies for managing internal and external transitions with intention and care. From role changes to resignations the goal is minimizing disruption while maximizing continuity and communication.

Attendees will:

  • Explore the key types of employee transitions and their ripple effects
  • Learn about creating effective transition plans that support both employees and teams
  • Understand the role of training, communication, and knowledge transfer in successful handovers
  • Gain tools to navigate resistance, skill gaps, and shifting team dynamics.

This is more than an operational checklist—it’s a people-first approach to change. Join us for a conversation on building smoother transitions that work for everyone. This is also a wonderful opportunity to ask questions of each other as well as bring your insights and experiences to the discussion to share. Our lunch time conversations are a great time for networking and learning from others.

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Ensuring Safe Commuting for All Employees

September 3, 2025 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Deborah Jeffries, SHRM-CP, SCP, CPC | Whitney Bennett | Free

Whitney Bennett from Commute Options (a non-profit out of Central Oregon) will share information about their Oregon Friendly Driver training program which teaches people who drive what to expect from people walking and biking to support safe commuting to/from work and on the job. Whether employees commute by car, foot, or bike – everyone deserves to get to where they need to go safely.

Oregon Friendly Driver dissolves the tension in the commute by helping all road users understand how our laws, infrastructure, and roadway design shape risky behavior patterns. We cover common crashes, and what drivers can do to prevent them. The goal of the free Oregon Friendly Driver training is to reduce the number of severe injuries and fatalities on our Oregon roads. When our employees get in a crash, it does not matter who is at fault, everyone suffers – whether that is physically, financially, or emotionally. Oregon Friendly Driver is an essential training to include in the employee onboarding process. We will discuss how it can be integrated into the workplace via HR and the benefits it can have on an organization.

This will be a GREAT discussion to share what you are doing in this space. It also will be a wonderful program to invite staff to participate or have them watch/listen to our recording. This just might be a program you invite Commute Options into your organization for a “visit”.

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Fostering Belonging Through Psychological Safety

October 1, 2025 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Deborah Jeffries, SHRM-CP, SCP, CPC | Free

In today’s fast-paced and increasingly diverse workplaces, creating a culture of psychological safety is not just a “nice to have”- it’s essential. When employees feel safe to be themselves, speak up, and take risks without fear of judgment or retribution, trust grows, performance improves, and people thrive.

Join us for this interactive session where we’ll explore how psychological safety contributes to a stronger sense of belonging and better team dynamics. We’ll discuss how leaders and colleagues alike can cultivate a culture where authenticity is encouraged, vulnerability is welcomed, and everyone feels heard and valued.

We explore:

  • The three core dimensions of psychological safety
  • Why psychological safety is a retention and performance driver
  • Practical ways to model authenticity and promote open communication
  • Tools for recognizing and addressing behaviors that erode safety and inclusion

This is your opportunity to reflect, discuss, and walk away with new insights for fostering belonging at work—no matter your role. You’ll also be able to learn from and share your ideas with other attendees about what’s working to build the belonging and safety.

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Creating New Pathways for Talent and Workforce Development

November 5, 2025 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Natalie Miller, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Apprenti | Free

In today’s competitive talent landscape, traditional hiring and training approaches aren’t always enough to fill those hard-to-recruit positions or build the skilled workforce your organization needs. Registered Apprenticeships (RA) offer a proven solution that creates new pathways for talent development while delivering measurable returns on investment.

This interactive session explores how Registered Apprenticeships can transform your talent strategy — not by replacing what you’re already doing, but by enhancing and expanding your existing programs. We’ll dive into what makes RA different from internships, why the ROI data from places like Kansas is getting national attention, and how Department of Labor research shows these programs consistently deliver results for both employers and workers.

You’ll discover how RA programs address those positions that seem impossible to fill, creating a pipeline of skilled workers who are trained specifically for your industry and organization. We’ll also explore exciting partnership opportunities through the SHRM Foundation, life science sector initiatives, and the Future Ready Oregon grant that can help fund and support your apprenticeship journey.

Attendees will:

  • Understand what Registered Apprenticeships are and how they create sustainable talent pipelines
  • See compelling ROI evidence and real-world outcomes that demonstrate business impact
  • Learn how RA programs complement and enhance existing talent development strategies
  • Discover funding and partnership opportunities available right now
  • Explore practical next steps for implementing apprenticeships in their organizations

This isn’t just about workforce development — it’s about building a competitive advantage through strategic talent investment. Whether you’re struggling with hard-to-fill positions, looking to strengthen your talent pipeline, or seeking innovative ways to develop your workforce, this conversation will give you fresh perspectives and actionable insights.

Come prepared to participate, share your experiences, and engage with fellow HR professionals facing similar talent challenges.

Natalie Miller is an accomplished Talent Development leader with over 20 years of experience aligning business strategy with innovative workforce solutions. She currently serves as Regional Director at Apprenti, a nationally recognized registered apprenticeship intermediary in tech, human resources, life sciences and beyond. In this role, Natalie leads the expansion of employer partnerships across the country, helping companies build robust, resilient talent pipelines through the power of registered apprenticeship.

With a career spanning global corporations and privately held firms, Natalie has deep expertise in human resources, talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement, and career planning. Her strategic, people-first approach has empowered organizations to attract, develop, and retain top talent at all levels. Natalie holds both the SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications and is passionate about driving empowering, scalable workforce solutions that support long-term business success.

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Succeeding as an HR Department of One

December 3, 2025 | 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Deborah Jeffries, SHRM-CP, SCP, CPC | Free

As the solo HR practitioner you are often pulled in many directions with what feels like many bosses to make happy. You must be all things HR to all people.

As an HR department of one, you must prioritize your responsibilities for immediate needs like onboarding, payroll administration and terminations, as well as plan around long-term needs like recruiting strategy, performance evaluation policies, and pay structures.

There is no easy button or a silver bullet (we know that’s what you are really looking for); however, there are things you can implement to not just survive but thrive as a solo HR professional.

This program is designed to help you navigate meeting the needs of your internal customers and still get your job done. We’ll even offer you ideas, suggestions, tools, guidance and perhaps a different perspective on some of your most challenging activities so you can accomplish more at the end of each day and sleep better each night. Some of the factors that we explore include:

Strategically align your department and organization’s goals and priorities within the business

  • Get the help you need: When to hire, outsource, or automate
  • Find the right service providers to assist
  • Getting help from your internal team
  • Building a network of your peers
  • Leveraging technology to meet the needs within your department

As a solitary HR professional, you can be an incredible asset to your organization, even if you don’t have an HR team to support you. By prioritizing well and focusing on what’s most important, you can make the most of your limited time and handle the HR matters at your organization professionally and effectively while creating a productive working environment.

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ACADEMY ACCESS

Looking to sharpen your HR skills or train your leadership team? Visit our Academy to access a growing library of on-demand courses, including our popular Supervisory Series and a wide range of educational materials. Whether you're building knowledge or tackling compliance challenges, the Academy makes it easy to learn on your schedule.

Access the Academy

At this time, the Academy only accepts single-learner registrations through the platform. If you need to register multiple individuals, please complete our group registration form available within our Academy course page. Once submitted, our team will invoice your organization and handle the registration process—ensuring each learner receives direct access and an invitation to the Academy.

CUSTOM TRAINING

We deliver client-specific custom training wherever it works best for your team — live at your location, virtually through an online platform, or in person at our site, which comfortably accommodates up to 20 learners. Our trainings are designed to meet your organization’s unique needs and culture, empowering your team with practical, relevant knowledge that supports immediate and long-term success.

Education Services