Investigating Errors and Determining Appropriate Responses: The Just Culture Model

March 11th, 2010

We all make mistakes occasionally.  When errors happen in the workplace, how should the employer respond?  Do we discipline an employee for any and every error that occurs?  What is the difference between human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior?  How do these behaviors factor into decisions in the disciplinary process?  To find out, please join us for an informative presentation on March 11 to learn about a model developed in the healthcare industry called Just Culture that can be applied in many types of businesses and industries.

Born out of a need to promote the reporting of medical errors by employees in the healthcare industry to learn from them and to determine ways of not repeating these errors, a group of healthcare organizations joined together to develop the Just Culture model; one that creates a learning culture, fosters an open and fair culture, helps design safe systems, and manages behavioral choices.  The Just Culture model is flexible enough to apply in many industries.

Think about employees who operate machinery and equipment or those who work with chemicals. How about accounting errors?  When do mistakes point to problems in systems and processes?  When do mistakes require disciplinary action?

About the Speaker

Theresa Manley

Our presenter is Theresa Manley, Director of Clinical Operations and the Patient Safety Officer at the Palo Alto Division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.  Theresa has organization-wide responsibility for patient safety and nursing scope of practice.  She serves as a consultant and executive coach in various healthcare leadership programs.  Theresa is instrumental in the coalition that developed the Just Culture model and actively promotes the concepts of a fair and just culture in the workplace. 

Theresa earned her BS, Nursing from Florida State University and a MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California in 2001. 

Come hear this dynamic speaker on March 11 at the beautiful Corral De Tierra Country Club.  And don’t forget to pre-register…the cost which includes lunch and the program, is only $25 for CCHRA members ($40 for non-members) when you pre-register by the Thursday before the program.

CCHRA has taken on several ambitious initiatives for 2010 and will be offering more opportunities for you, our members, to be more involved. One of these initiatives is to form positive partnerships with local colleges and universities to
support recent graduates as they join the workforce.  To that end, CCHRA has offered to partner with California State University at Monterey Bay’s Otter Outfitters. The Otter Outfitters is a program jointly sponsored by CSUMB and the Monterey Bay’s Women’s Leadership Council. 

What can you do? Donate new or your gently used, freshly dry-cleaned, business and age-appropriate clothes to new graduates. The clothing must be appropriate for job interviews, internships, senior capstone presentations, or on-campus career day-focused events.

Where can I bring my gently used clothing? That’s easy! Bring your freshly dry cleaned clothing to the March 11, 2010, CCHRA meeting at the Corral de Tierra Country Club. There will be a donation rack by the check-in desk. This is also your opportunity make room in your closet for new spring clothes! 

Your participation can make a lasting impact on our local graduates and businesses alike. Here is a list of
the business and age-appropriate items for the Otter Outfitters Program: 

 Conducting Internal Investigations

May 13^th, 2010

This presentation will discuss the importance of conducting an effective investigation into any allegation of employee misconduct including sexual harassment, discrimination, workplace violence and threats of violence, substance abuse, theft, and violations of the organization’s ethics policies.  We will provide  practical guidance on the skills necessary to conduct these investigations including how to:  ask effective questions, interview reluctant witnesses, interview the accused, access credibility, and arrive at a legally-defensible decision.  The attendees will learn how to prepare and utilize all of the necessary documentation which is needed as part of an investigation. 

About the Speaker

STEPHEN J. HIRSCHFELD is a founding partner in the San Francisco office of Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP.  He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Employment Law Alliance, the world’s largest network of labor and employment lawyers.  Mr. Hirschfeld practices in the areas of labor and employment law and related litigation.  He has substantial experience in wrongful termination and discrimination litigation, employment law counseling, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, union organizing issues, and training management to minimize litigation and human resource problems.  Mr. Hirschfeld is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Law Section), the Missouri Bar and the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Inc.  Mr. Hirschfeld is the author of Stopping Sexual Harassment In The Workplace:  An Employer’s Guide and Conducting An Effective Internal Investigation.  He is the author or co-author of numerous publications including Office Romance: Are the rules changing?; Policymakers, Take Note: The Force Is With Workplace Bloggers; Stopping Sexual Harassment:  An Employer’s Guide; Workplace Bullying: The Next Legal Frontier? and Workers Behaving Badly.  He was a contributing author for The CEO Contract:  Creating a Winning Partnership and How ADR Works.  Mr. Hirschfeld was named by Who’s Who Legal – Management Labor and Employment Law, Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon, The Expert Guide and AsiaLaw as one of the top  labor and employment lawyers in the United States.  He is listed in Northern California Super Lawyers 2007 and 2008.  He is regularly quoted and featured in publications such as The San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Jose Mercury News and the Chronicle of Higher Education as well as contributing to national and local television and radio programs regarding labor and employment law issues.  He received his B.A., summa cum laude, from St. Lawrence University (Phi Beta Kappa) and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

2010 MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:  held on Thursdays at Corral De Tierra Country Club off Hwy 68:  

• January 14 - Employment Law Update with Roberta Hayashi - Special 2-hour program!
• March 11 - Investigating Errors and Determining Appropriate Responses: The Just Culture Model
• May 13 - Conducting Internal Investigations
• July 8 - Topic: TBD
• September 9 - Topic: TBD
• November 11 -  Topic: TBD

 Advertise your company during the opening powerpoint at the Upcoming Membership meeting.

BOARD MEETINGS:

Board Meetings are a time for the volunteer leaders of CCHRA to come together to coordinate chapter operations. The President facilitates the Board Meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order. The Secretary records in the Board Meeting minutes a record of the proceedings.

Please RSVP with the President if you are a member or volunteer that would like to attend a board meeting.

All board meetings are held at the Law Offices of Fenton & Keller, Highway 68.

Unless otherwise noted, board meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

2010 Board Meetings:

• January 25
• February 22
• March 29
• April 26
• May 24
• June 21
• July 26
• August 30
• September 27
• October 25
• November 29
• December - TBD

Other Important Dates:

• SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference: March 17-19, 2010 in Washington, DC

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