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SPD > Training > Employee Training Courses Employee Training Courses

Training Course available to employees

The classes that are currently being offered in the State Quarterly Training Calendar are listed below. You may access the course description for any of these classes by clicking on the class title with your mouse arrow pointer. After reviewing the description, you may return to the index by selecting the "Back"button on your Internet/Intranet tool bar.

Current course offerings

Affirmative Action Plan Monitoring Report

Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, American with Disabilities Act, and Sexual Harassment

Course Description

All state agencies with 50 or more established positions (and/or receive more than $50,000 in federal contracts) are required to develop an Affirmative Action Plan. To further implement Affirmative Action compliance, these Affirmative Action Plans are periodically monitored by the State Personnel Department to evaluate their effectiveness. This program is designed to introduce the monitoring program and identify the components of the reporting system. Participants should bring a calculator.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
3 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Human Resource Professionals, especially AA Coordinators and others involved in developing Affirmative Action Plans.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn how to monitor the progress their agency is making towards its affirmative action goals throughout the plan year and how to complete an Affirmative Action Plan Monitoring Report.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Basic American Sign Language

Course Description

This program is designed to enable participants to become beginner signers. The American Sign Language the Easy Way course is designed to enable participants who have little or no knowledge of American Sign Language to learn to sign to a point where they can function comfortably in a wide variety of situations in the Deaf Community. Deaf culture is taught through the program as well.

Presented By:
Representative from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).

Length:
Class meets 1 day per week (1.5 hours) for eight (8) weeks.

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee interested in learning the basics of American Sign Language.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn:
· How to exchange personal information;
· Give and understand directions;
· The ten basic ASL grammars;
· Master signing the dialogues;
· Appropriate ways to gain attention and negotiate the environment of signed conversation;
· Gain an understanding of the Deaf culture.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Conflict Resolution

Enhancing Your Conflict Resolution Skills

Course Description

Participants will learn the basic concepts of conflict resolution.

  • What conflict is
  • What contributes to conflict
  • Setting the tone
  • Conflict management styles
  • Resolution strategies
  • Communication and conflict

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
3 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee may attend.

Key Benefits:
Conflict is constructive when it brings new ideas, innovation, and deeper relationships. Conflict is destructive when it leads to tense relationships, lowered morale and productivity. Participants will learn to analyze and resolve conflict more effectively.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Customer Service

Course Description

1. Why do we care about customer service?
    a. Agency Mission
    b. Significant part of our job
        1. Performance Rating
        2. How poor customer service can impact our workload

2. Customers' perceptions and expectations

3. How do we make a difference
    a. First impression
    b. Attitude
    c. Hot buttons
    d. Communication skills (including telephone and e-mail etiquette)
    e. Complaints

4. Diversity and customer service (including people with special needs)

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
3 hours

Who Should Attend:
Any employee interested in basic concepts of customer service may attend.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn about the basic concepts of customer service.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Family Medical Leave (FML)

Course Description

An overview of the Family/Medical Leave Policy.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
4 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Managers, supervisors, personnel officers, human resource representatives, and payroll clerks may attend.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn about the Family/Medical Leave Policy and how it affects employees of the State of Indiana.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Hoosier S.T.A.R.T.

Course Description

The course will explain how Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. works. Specific information will be given about the investment options available to employees under the plan. They will learn the advantages of savings on a before-tax basis. Plan rules and structure will be explained.

Deferred Compensation - Enrollment
How the Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Fringe Benefits Program Works

This session will cover what Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. is and the benefits of participating in the program. Those near retirement wanting a more in-depth look at what they will derive from their Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. account should attend the session on Distribution Options.

Presented By:
Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Plan Representative.

Length:
1 Hour

Who Should Attend:
All new employees and those who want to learn more about the fringe benefit before enrolling.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn:

· How to prepare now for retirement financial security;
· How to save on this year's taxes;
· The difference between before-tax and after-tax savings.
· How Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. works; and
· What savings options are available through
payroll deduction.

Location:
State Conference Center

Cost:
Free of Charge!

NOTE: Register directly with Hoosier S.T.A.R.T.

View 2008 class schedule


Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Distribution Options

Learning If and When You Can Retire on Your Present Income

Course Description

An opportunity to have your questions answered on the options available to you when you retire with money in Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Discussion of the types of benefits available, how and when to apply for payment, and how to defer taxation on your funds after you retire.

Presented By:
Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Plan Representative

Length:
1 Hour

Who Should Attend:
Attendance is recommended for those in Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. considering retirement within the next two years.

Key Benefits:
Knowing if and when you can retire often depends on the income you can expect at retirement. Participants will be able to judge their income from Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. and be counseled on ways to use their accounts to meet their specific needs.

Location:
State Conference Center

Cost:
Free of Charge!

NOTE: Register directly with Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. Also, participants wishing personalized projections based on their own account balance and estimated retirement dates should contact Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. at 1-877-SAVNRET (1-877-728-6738), option 2, to speak to an account representative.

View 2008 class schedule

How to Develop an Affirmative Action Plan

Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, American with Disabilities Act, and Sexual Harassment

Course Description

All state agencies with 50 or more established positions (and/or receive more than $50,000 in federal contracts) are required to develop an Affirmative Action Plan. Agencies with fewer than 50 established positions are required to develop a modified version of an Affirmative Action Plan. This program provides information on regulations that mandate Affirmative Action compliance and how to implement an Affirmative Action Plan. This class may also be beneficial for those employees who have drafted plans in the past, to become familiar with the latest requirements and learn how to streamline their plans. Participants should bring a calculator.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
7 Hours, including a lunch hour

Who Should Attend:
Human Resource Professionals, especially AA Coordinators and others involved in the development of Affirmative Action Plans.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn how to develop an Affirmative Action Plan/Policy that meets federal guidelines

Cost:
Free of Charge!

How to Investigate Complaints of Discrimination

Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity, American with Disabilities Act, and Sexual Harassment

Course Description

All complaints of discrimination must be taken seriously and investigated in a timely manner. This program is designed to identify the procedures necessary to conduct a thorough and confidential investigation.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
7 hours, including a lunch hour

Who Should Attend:
Human Resource Professionals, especially AA Coordinators and others involved in investigating discrimination complaints.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn how to conduct thorough, confidential investigations.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Information and Records Management

Learning Records, Techniques, Methods, On-Line Services and State Laws

Course Description

Effective records management is an obligation for all state agencies. Properly implemented, it improves the quality and efficiency of state government. The course stresses the use of information as a resource and information technology as a tool to help agencies fulfill their missions. The course is designed as a workshop with discussions of general principles and the potential benefits of good records management illustrated by problem solving exercises. The instructors will distribute a records management handbook for reference and research.

Pre-registration is required for each session.

Presented By:
Staff from the Records Management Division of the Indiana Commission on Public Records.

Length:
4 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee may attend.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn the legal framework of records management and how to minimize storage problems. To improve access by using different storage media, e.g. paper, microfilm and various computer storage systems; how to use records management to enhance office productivity; how to evaluate new information technology, such as imaging, and how to develop records as an information resource available on-line through the Access Indiana Information Network.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Personnel Rules

State Personnel Rules for Merit and Non-Merit Employees

Course Description

This program is designed to assist supervisors and managers in understanding and applying the State Personnel Merit Rules and Non-Merit Rules. Some of the areas covered are:

  • The classification plan
  • The pay plan
  • Hours and leaves
  • State personnel policies
  • Applications and examinations
  • Employment lists
  • Certification and appointment

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
5.5 Hours (includes lunch hour)

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee may attend.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn about the Indiana State Personnel Department's general personnel policies, what the Merit and Non-Merit Rules cover, and many specifics of the Merit and Non-Merit Rules. At the conclusion of this training, human resource employees, supervisors, and managers will have a greater understanding of how the Merit and Non-Merit Rules affect their daily operations.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Preventing Violence in the Workplace

The Basic Skills for Defusing or Detecting Hostile Situations

Course Description

This course is designed to assist individuals in detecting and defusing hostile situations before they escalates into violence.

Presented By:
State Police Personnel

Length:
4 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee may attend.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn:

  • Policies and procedures that make customers upset
  • Warning signs of potential hostility
  • Methods for diffusing hostility before it escalates into violence
  • How to respond if a individual becomes violent

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Pre-Retirement Planning

Planning Today to be Prepared for Tomorrow

Course Description

This program is designed to assist state employees with advance retirement planning by providing information useful in making informed decisions. A sound retirement requires careful advance planning involving numerous interrelated topics, including:

  • Financial planning;
  • Public Employees' Retirement Fund;
  • Social Security;
  • Insurance;
  • Hoosier S.T.A.R.T.;
  • and Legal issues.

Presented By:
Representatives from various organizations that work in the areas being discussed both from within and outside of state government.

Length:
8 Hours (Includes lunch hour)

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee and spouse interested in doing advance planning for retirement. If your spouse will be attending, please add the name on your registration form or inform your Agency Training Contact Person (ATCP). Everyone is encouraged to attend this program regardless of how far they may be from retirement. Information provided in this seminar pertains to both the employee for which retirement is imminent, as well as long-term planning for employees with retirement on a distant horizon.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn:

  • The pros and cons of different types of investments for future retirement security;
  • The various options and benefits available through the Public Employees' Retirement Fund;
  • Benefits obtainable through Social Security and Medicare;
  • Different options available to state retirees for both life and health insurance;
  • Potential benefits through Hoosier S.T.A.R.T. to add to retirement income;
  • Key elements in estate planning, including: last will and testament, living will, health care authorization, durable power of attorney, and death taxes; and
  • The Indiana Long-Term Care Program as an element of retirement planning.

Cost:
Free of Charge! Please note that employees may attend the Pre-Retirement Planning Seminar on state time; however, travel time must be the employee's time.

Progressive Discipline

Positive Management Approaches to Improving Employees' Performance

Course Description

This course instructs supervisors on the proper techniques for improving employee performance or conduct. Some of the topics include:

  • What progressive discipline is and why it should be used
  • Alternatives for improving employee performance or conduct
  • The importance of documentation
  • When you should use discipline
  • How and where you should conduct the disciplinary discussion
  • What it takes to uphold a suspension or dismissal on appeal
  • Mistakes to avoid

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
4 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Managers and supervisors who attend the Comprehensive Employee Relations Training (CERT) training program will receive this training. This program is only offered as a part of the CERT program.

Key Benefits:
Participants will learn the proper procedures to follow when considering discipline. At the conclusion of this training, participants will be more capable and comfortable with this critical management skill. Participants will learn how to turn employee problems into opportunities for improved motivation.

Cost:
The CERT training program is $25.00 per participant.

Selection and Interviewing

How to Hire Your Next Employee

Course Description

This course teaches the steps in the employment/hiring process. It includes the following topics:
  • Overview of the employment process
  • Pre-screening applicants
  • Reviewing job descriptions
  • Developing behavioral and situational based interview questions
  • Assessing the legality of your questions
  • Setting up for the interview
  • Conducting effective structured and panel interviews

Hands-on exercises are part of this course.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
5 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Any state employee involved in the interview process may attend.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will learn:

  • What constitutes illegal questions
  • How to develop and conduct fair and effective interviews

Cost:
Free of Charge!

Short/Long-term Disability and Workers' Compensation

Administration of the Workers' Compensation and Short/Long-Term Disability Programs for State Employees

Course Description

This course teaches human resource and payroll representatives about the filing and administration of group Disability and Worker's Compensation claims for their agencies' employees. The following topics will be covered:

  • Filing procedures for Short/Long-Term Disability, Tortuous Act Injury Disability and Workers' Compensation claims
  • Integration of accrued leaves and Family Medical Leave with Disability and Workers' Compensation claims
  • Basic benefits available under each plan; basic claims accounting; duration of benefits
  • Special plan rules such as Exclusions, Workers Compensation Minimum Benefits; Medical case management on Workers' Compensation
  • Special group Disability plan rules such as age and impairment limitations, offsets, other work, long term minimums
  • Working with the Third Party Administrator
  • Directing care in Workers' Compensation cases
  • Claim timelines, claim settlements, terminations, exhaustion of benefits
  • Partial Disability, part-time work, return to work issues including third and fourth year long term claims
  • Agency role before, during, after claims
  • Pre-claim planning
  • Integration with other programs such as Social Security, Vocational Rehabilitation, ADA

Presented By:
Disability and Workers' Compensation Third Party Administrator staff.

Length:
3 Hours

Who Should Attend:
This class is designed for supervisors and managers responsible for helping oversee the agency input for these programs, any payroll clerk, personnel officer, personnel assistant or human resource representative.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

Participants will appreciate the integrated approach to group Disability and Workers' Compensation programs; be able to advise employees or junior staff about proper filing of claims and reporting of injuries. Also, participants will understand the use of leave and reporting requirements.

Cost:
Free of Charge!

SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP®

Providing Different Management Styles in Different Situations

Course Description:

This course teaches managers how to adjust their leadership-style depending on the employee's level of development and the situation. The material was developed by Ken Blanchard, Ph.D., the author of The One Minute Manager. Participants will identify their dominant leadership style during the class. The class is taught through video-tapes, lecture and discussion.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Staff

Length:
6.5 Hours (Includes lunch hour)

Who Should Attend:
This class is designed for new and experienced managers from any level of state government. Over the years, research has shown that the #1 reason that training fails is because of lack of support or awareness from upper management. If your supervisor has not attended this class and cannot attend with you, please ask your supervisor to attend before or shortly after you attend.

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

This class will teach managers how to identify their subordinate's development level. They will also learn what actions they should take to apply the correct leadership style to a situation in order to maximize productivity and employee motivation.

Cost:
$ 50.00

NOTE: This course has been implemented in thousands of businesses across America. It is extremely popular because it is based on sound research and because managers have found that it works.

Sexual Harassment Prevention

Course Description:

Sexual Harassment is a serious issue in the workplace. This program is designed to bring awareness of what sexual harassment is and its potential impact on job performance. Sessions specific to supervisors and managers may be offered by request.

Presented By:
State Personnel Department Training Division Staff

Length:
3 Hours

Who Should Attend:
Managers and Supervisors

Key Benefits:
Approved for HRCI Credits

  • Identify and discuss the definitions of sexual harassment
  • Identify and discuss the three categories of sexual harassment
  • Identify and discuss key factors to determine if an unlawful hostile work environment exists within an organization
  • Identify risky verbal, non-verbal, physical and visual behaviors that could lead to sexual harassment
  • Identify and discuss how a supervisor can prevent sexual harassment

Cost:
Free of Charge!