Labor Relations Insight

by Phil Wilson

I’ve Been Everywhere, Man…

I am home for the first full week in a month and looking forward to a holiday weekend before I hit the trail again. Traveling can get old, but there are parts of it I really enjoy. It is great to meet new people. Of course I like to talk about what’s going on the world of labor relations and approachable leadership. But traveling also gives me a great opportunity to learn and grow too. I thought for this month’s insight I’d take readers on a quick tour of the last month, along with what I learned along the way. Who knows, maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two yourself? My first swing took me to Green Bay, Denver, Washington DC, and Minneapolis. This trip included doing labor relations training and updates for HR leaders and a C-Suite group, an approachability workshop, a talk to around 100 attorneys who practice Indian Law, and an after-action review with a client. Here’s a few of the things I learned:

1. You can carry a lot of Approachability Playbooks in a carry on suitcase.
2. You cannot go to Green Bay without seeing Lambeau Field. Literally every single person you meet will ask you if you’ve been. If you answer “no” they may actually abduct you and take you there. The good news it is on the way to the airport.

3. I was in Washington DC for about eight hours to participate in the US Chamber’s bi-annual Labor Committee Meeting. I learned that eight hours is still enough time in DC to make your head hurt. By the way, if your company is a member of the Chamber you need to join this group – if your company is not a member your company should join the Chamber and then you should join the group.
4. Lawyers in Minneapolis will stay inside to get CLE credit even if it is 90 degrees in May.

5. “After action” review meetings are surprisingly rare, but incredibly important. They are a hallmark of keeping Left of Boom and staying ahead of employee relations problems. It is inspiring to work with clients who want to learn and grow from challenges.
6. The parking lot outside a Hampton Inn is a terrific place to brief someone on the persuader rule.
7. I don’t get to work alongside my friends nearly often enough. Or debate which track on Sticky Fingers is the best (we settled on Sway). But it is cool when it happens.
8. Downtown Green Bay is experiencing a resurgence. It is inspiring to see people take such pride in their community. I was just getting started on my travels, but I was already a little homesick (Tulsa and Broken Arrow are both experiencing similar downtown resurgences).

  My second travel swing began on my birthday. This trip included stops in Indianapolis, Houston and the CUE Conference in Orlando. This trip was primarily speaking events including a couple of Approachable Leadership Keynotes and a Workshop, plus sessions on the DOL Persuader rule. Here are a few of the many things I learned on this trip:

1. Ohio State guys can be pretty hospitable, even to a Wolverine. Although they will make sure that their gifts are scarlet and not blue.
2. Engineers and quality folks are as interested in approachability as HR leaders – especially after they understand how much Deming believed in approachability.

3. Cavemen, when left in a hotel room with two giant birthday cookies, will break down and eat the cookies after around an hour. They will eat the Slim Jim the next morning.
4. I suggested in our comments on the persuader rule that DOL dramatically underestimated the compliance burden of the rule. I can also tell you from experience that you can spend over 2 straight hours answering questions about the persuader rule and still not cover everything. Coincidence?

5. While it is hard for an Okie to brag on Texas, they do put on a heck of an HR conference.
6. I could listen to David Wimmer and Tammy Rattray talk about labor law developments (even crazy ones like BFI) all day long. Really.
7. The DOL and NLRB rulemakings are probably going to result in a lot of unintended consequences that unions won’t like. The ambush rule has, if anything, hurt unions. The persuader rule could very well do the same.
8. Even a rainstorm can’t prevent Disney from putting on an incredible fireworks show. It also can’t dampen the spirits of a terrific conference experience. If you’re not a CUE member now is the time to correct that.

9. I am blessed to work with such amazing and talented consultants. I don’t get to see them often enough either.

Where have your travels taken you over the last month or two? What have you learned? Feel free to share in the comments. Hopefully I’ll see you out there on the road sometime soon!