Respecting Confidentiality and Renewing Our Commitment
By Maj. Gen. Alfred Valenzuela
Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve received two e-mails from me regarding the important role of employees who participate on an interview panel.
We ask employees to participate in interview panels for several reasons, including that it allows employees at every level to get involved in the hiring process. Plus, current employees have the ability to determine if they think a candidate would be a good fit for the organization. In addition, since everyone is using the same information to make an assessment of the candidate, it’s more accurate and consistent.
There are many organizations and businesses that simply have HR staff and managers screen candidates, not employees at all levels. We involve our employees because we value your input and want you to be an important part of the process. And if you are selected to serve on a panel, it’s important that you honor your commitment.
But with that comes the responsibility of confidentiality. If a panel member discloses anything discussed during a candidate’s interview or the panel’s findings, it invalidates the process.
I am disappointed and troubled that an employee recently disrespected this process by confiding what was discussed during a panel interview. Because of this, the candidates for the position will have to repeat the process, which is disrespectful of their time and commitment as well as ours.
Speaking of commitments, you’ll also find SAHA’s core values in this newsletter. While I hope that most of you are familiar with them, read them over again from time to time to remind yourself why we do what we do.
Everything we do, our actions and our words, matter and I encourage you to read the article below talking about this very idea.
Finally, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I believe in this organization and its employees. The work that you do every day is important and I thank you for it.
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Everything Counts
It was a Friday afternoon after the holidays, and a 2nd grade teacher asked her students what they asked Santa to bring them.
Michael was waving his hand so the teacher asked him to tell everyone what he had asked for.
Michael said that after he had given his wish list of computer games, movies and an ipod to Santa, Santa asked him if he had been a good boy. Michael answered “Yes I have, I’ve been very good, but maybe I did tell a little white lie, and I cheated on a game and called my sister stupid. But those things don’t count do they Santa?”
How should an HR team answer that question?
Your HR team would say THOSE THINGS DO COUNT! Doing the right thing means doing right all the time. There are no time-outs… no crossing your fingers behind your back.
EVERYTHING COUNTS
But doing the right thing involves a lot more than avoiding big “corporate sins”. It’s our daily, seemingly insignificant actions and behaviors that determine our overall goodness.
We should all periodically challenge ourselves to examine just how ethical we are by looking at...
8 the way we treat and talk about each other
8 the little white lies we don’t (or do) tell
8 the commitments we make and keep
(or don’t keep)
8 the supplies we don’t (or do) take home
8 the “unimportant” rules we follow (or break)
8 the level of quality we put into our work
8 the fact that we don’t (or do) use office equipment
for personal business
8 the way we respond (or don’t) to the requests
we receive
8 the credit we appropriately share (or don’t)
with our co-workers
These and many behaviors like them reflect who we are and what we stand for here at SAHA. Looking at them helps us to understand and remember that being good and doing the right thing are not sometime things – they are every time things involving everything we do.
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Sexual Harassment
FEBRUARY:
Feb. 10th Fair Ave. and Cassiano
Feb. 11th Pecan Hill and Woodhill
Feb. 12th Boardroom
Customer Service I
MARCH:
Mar. 17th Fair Ave. and Cassiano
Mar. 18th Pecan Hill and Woodhill
Mar. 19th Boardroom
Strengthen the Core
Last month we were all encouraged to make our personal development a resolution to keep in 2009. The training and development staff in Human Resources will continue to champion this effort. Over the next few months you will be hearing more about a familiar approach to making significant improvements personally and as an organization. It all begins with the renewed commitment to the SAHA Core Values, which state:
- Always do the right thing
- Demonstrate compassion and respect in every interaction
- Strive for excellence in all operations
- Be responsible stewards of the public trust
If each of us will make a commitment to make these values a reality in the way we do business at SAHA every day, we will find that the organization will become better and we will develop professionally.
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HeRe for You
It is a new year with new opportunities to serve you. The staff of the Human Resources department is committed to providing the best possible service to every employee of SAHA.
We welcome your comments, questions and concerns, and want to hear from you.
There are several ways you can contact the HR department:
1.Come by the HR department anytime between the hours of 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday and talk to a representative.
2.
Place a telephone call to any of the HR Staff.
3.
E-mail any individual HR staff member, or ALL staff members, by using the Human Resources & Training address found in the directory.
4.
And now, a brand new service option is available for those of you who prefer to just drop us a note … it’s the HR “HELP LOG”. The HR “help log” is similar to that used to request assistance from the Information Technology department. A drop down menu provides several options, including an “other” option, in the event your specific issue does not appear in the menu. Just fill-in the box with your question or request and a HR staff member will respond.
As always, the staff of the HR department would love to see you, speak to you over the telephone, answer your e-mail, and now we can respond through the “help log”. The HR staff is HeRe for you!
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Gerald (Gerry) Avila
 My name is Gerald Avila (you can call me Gerry) and I have worked at SAHA for 3 1/2 years. I am a Senior Human Resources Manager with the responsibility for the training and employee development programs. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development. My personal and professional goal in 2009 is to obtain the Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) Certification.
I strongly believe that this organization, and every employee of SAHA, can be radically transformed through the regular practice of the SAHA Core Values which state: 1.) Always do the right thing; 2.) Demonstrate compassion and respect in every interaction; 3.) Strive for excellence in all operations; and 4.) Be responsible stewards of the public trust. You can expect to see these values incorporated into every training program presented at SAHA. The greatest blessing I could receive would be to see every employee, not just achieve their maximum potential in their job, but also develop those additional skills and abilities that will propel them to the next level of housing professionals.
If I can be of assistance, please contact me at the following:
Office: 477-6867
E-Mail: Gerald_Avila@saha.org |
Pat Morrison
 My name is Pat Morrison and I am a Sr. HR Manager within the Human Resources Department at SAHA. I came to SAHA in November 2008, with many years experience in the Human Resources and Training fields. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and I also have my PHR (Professional Human Resources) certification. My future goals are to obtain my Master’s Degree in Human Resources and upgrade my PHR certification to an SPHR (Senior Professional Human Resources).
My duties are varied and different every day, however, I believe that the most important task I have is to ensure that all things related to the work environment of SAHA employees are handled consistently, fairly and timely. These include but are not limited to, recruiting, compliance, enforcing policies and procedures and employee relations.
I very much enjoy and strongly believe that being an HR professional means communicating, compromising and working closely with employees at all levels. I believe it is vital to the overall productivity and efficiency of a thriving company that its workforce, practices and systems all work to support the goal of true customer service. SAHA’s HR department is committed to being a significant partner to this objective through their dedication in the development of best practices, resolving issues and creating an environment that treats everyone fairly and with dignity and respect.
I am very happy to be a part of the SAHA and HR Team and look forward to getting to know all of you.
You can contact me directly (see below) or you can contact any staff member in Human Resources to assist you.
Office Extension: 6575
Phone: 210-389-7388
E-mail: Patricia_Morrison@SAHA.org |
House Calls
 SAHA is pleased to announce a new service for all employees that carry the Humana Insurance. Starting 01/01/09, Humana is sponsoring membership with the “White Glove House Calls” group.
For the cost of the specialist in-network co-pay, you will get:
8 Routine medical care brought to your home or workplace
8Well-kits with foods, beverages, and over-the-counter remedies delivered to you
8Over-the-counter and prescription medications prescribed, ordered, and brought to you
8 Health insurance claims filed for you
8Secure web access to your medical records, lab results, medical expenses, treatment records, and much more
8Follow-ups performed with you about your visit, your progress, your lab results, and much more.
More information to follow soon. |
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Respecting Confidentiality