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The 2012 SWMHRA Annual Member Survey
Hello SWMHRA Members,
Below are results on the 2012 Member Survey. We do this survey on an annual basis to gauge
member experiences/expectations and drive our planning for the upcoming year. Thank you to
everyone who participated in this year's survey!

Mary O'Brien
Executive Director
The Southwest Metro Human Resources Association
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______________________________________________________________________
Results of the 2012 SWMHRA Member Survey
We received almost 100 responses to our questionnaire. Here is what we found:




SWMHRA Goals Are To:
* Provide quality educational programs through SWMHRA meetings
* Offer camaraderie and networking opportunities
* Help members with day-to-day HR issues
* Allow access to resources (SWMHRA website, member directory, discussion forum, meetings)
* Promote the value and importance of the HR profession.
Are there any other goals you feel are important to add to the above?
- No – 95.7%
- Yes – 4.3% → Corporate Citizenship (community outreach) and certification for CEUs

Other: TCICEBS, HR Executive Forum, MN OD Network, ASTD-TCC, IPMA-HR Minnesota, hrconnection, MSP-HR, Twin Cities Compensation Network, World at Work, and APA.
SWMHRA meetings will be held the second Thursday of each month. NOTE: During July and August SWMHRA does not meet. Our schedule is as follows: Networking is 7:30-8:00 A.M. Meetings are 8:00-9:30 A.M. Open forum discussions are 9:30-10:00 A.M. (Optional for those who want to stay and discuss current issues) Does this current meeting day/time work for you?
- Yes – 82.6%
- No – 17.4% → Lunch/afternoon/evening meetings, later start time, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays.
In your opinion, what are HR’s biggest challenges today? Here are the top 5 responses:
- Acquiring key talent/lack of available talent
- Building leadership ability
- Healthcare Issues (Reform/Cost containment)
- Driving cultural and behavioral change in the organization
- Constraints on headcount (“making do with less”)
Which job titles do you recruit for most often? Here are the top 5 responses:
- Production/Assemblers/Machine Operators
- Sales/Customer Service
- Engineers
- Various IT positions
- Various mid level exempt office positions

Other → Outside agencies needed to fill some positions, over-qualified candidates, high turnover of newly hired candidates, pay/incentives not market-competitive, highly technical/specific hard-to-find skill sets, and relocation issues. NOTE: Many “other” comments were related to “under-qualified” candidates.
What are your biggest challenges in your HR Role? Here are the top 5 responses:
- Workload – significant increased responsibilities with a reduced staff and trying to find a work/life balance
- Training issues at all levels of the organization
- Lack of upper management/leadership involvement with HR
- Recruitment challenges
- Keeping current on workplace laws and update compliances
The overall topics our members have requested to see as possible future SWMHRA events are:
- Best Practices in HR
- HR’s Value-Added/Return on Investment
- HR as a Business Partner
- Metrics and Measurements of HR
- Emerging Issues in HR
- Strategic Management Issues
- The Future of the HR Profession
- Employer of Choice
- Life Balance Issues
- Technology and HR
Note: The next questions on the survey requested Demographic Information, Speaker and Meeting Host suggestions. Those answers are not included here. If you are a SWMHRA member and would like to receive the demographic information from this survey, please contact me at
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