Articles in this newsletter:
ComEd Lead Crew Leaders Are Write On
Early in the morning on one of the most beautiful days of the summer, 11 Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) lead crew leaders and a supervisor sat in a classroom readying for an eight-hour technical writing and communications training by Joliet Junior College (JJC). Held at ComEd's Commercial Center in Oak Brook, the class was part of a series of training sessions for individuals who recently assumed the position of lead crew leaders. In this new leadership role, the group have higher visibility in the workplace and are expected to increase their written communication to supervisors and crew through technology.
At the start of class, a few of the ComEd crew admitted that "a technical writing class is probably more work than doing line work" out in the field. However, by the time the daylong class was over, they not only walked away with good information - but said the hands-on learning was fun as well.
"I enjoyed the training. It was informative and not boring. I feel as though I will be able to apply what I learned to everyday activities," said Jerry Kirby, lead crew leader. "The instructor kept the ideas and different exercises moving – and kept us involved."
Designed specifically for the ComEd group, the class included visuals, activities and practical examples. Training included the review of verbal communication and listening skills, along with leadership applications in the workplace. They also discussed:
- How verbal and non-verbal traits relate to writing skills
- The importance of good written communication
- Communicating with supervisors
- Writing in the workplace environment
- Good writing practices
- Writing and technology
- Email etiquette
During the training, there were also opportunities to write for the workplace, including memos and email. Because the group recently received new lap tops to use in the field, a focus was put on leadership communication through email. Format and etiquette were discussed and several case studies of actual work issues served as a basis for practical email writing exercises.
"The class was extremely informative and the communication piece was interesting," said supervisor Michael Platt. "It helped me and my crews understand the fundamentals."
The technical writing and communication class is one in a series of training sessions offered to the group. They recently completed a ComEd's Leadership Training Program, focusing on supervision and leadership. They'll also receive Microsoft Word, Excel and technical training in the near future.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation and serves approximately 3.8 million customers in Northern Illinois. Kathy Thigpen, senior training specialist says the company recognizes how critical communication is to safety and success.
"We feel the right skills and the right tools, (brings) the right performance," said Thigpen, who commented that the JJC training was "right on target" and liked how they delivered it in a "comfortable learning environment".
Amy Murphy, director of Corporate and Community Services at JJC has worked with Thigpen in the past and agrees that it's important to offer a comfortable learning environment as part of training in the workplace. She also feels that it's important to provide information that addresses the specific learning needs of individual groups represented in the classroom.
"For example, we assigned a customized technical writing and communication training for ComEd lead crew leaders because there were definite expectations for increased written communication in their new roles," said Murphy. "With this class, they were given the necessary tools to be successful in their new role – and they had a good time as well."
To learn more about corporate training opportunities provided by Joliet Junior College, contact Murphy at
amurphy@jjc.edu by calling (815) 280-1418.
Making Sense out of Healthcare Reform
Since the passage of healthcare reform, small business owners have been concerned about how this new legislation will affect them. Can they maintain "Grandfather" status on their current health benefits? Will they be required to pay $2,000 per employee as a penalty for not providing health insurance? Will it drive up healthcare costs, or worse, force entrepreneurs out of business?
"These questions have been debated in the media ever since the bill was signed," said Brian Thompson, business analyst with Joliet Junior College's Illinois Small Business Development Center (ISBDC). "Business owners, however, need to know the facts and how they impact their future."
Part of the confusion may be in the volume of laws and regulations covered in the 2400 plus pages of the new healthcare reform bill. It will take time for everyone to sift through all of this and understand how it will play out economically and socially.
Another part of the confusion may the fact that many of the new changes don't start until 2014. Nevertheless, there are some changes that take effect now, some that will be in effect next year, and some that will begin in 2013. "Implementing such a large and complex piece of legislation will naturally cause some confusion and misunderstanding," said Thompson. "That's why we are offering a new seminar for small businesses designed to help them make sense out of what is coming."
The seminar will be conducted by attorney Larry Grudzien who specializes in employee benefits law. He has more than 28 years of experience in this field and has been an adjunct faculty member at John Marshall Law School in Chicago and Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana.
Grudzien will focus on those changes that take effect in 2010, 11, and 12. "I think anything after that may be repealed or changed," he said. "I think President Obama may veto any sufficient changes until 2013."
One of the changes that takes effect during this period is the elimination of lifetime and annual limits. In the past, a policy would cover 80 percent of co-pay amount and 100 percent of the balance up to a specified lifetime total. "That is going away," said Grudzien, "and I doubt it will come back. Many provisions in the new reform package will stay because most people really want them. For example, most people want insurance companies to accept anyone with a preexisting condition. That part of the new law will probably not change. The preexisting condition exclusion will go away for participants and dependents for the first plan year beginning after September 23, 2010 and for everyone in 2014."
Another concern for the small business owner is how the new reform package will regulate the grandfather status of employers who currently offer healthcare coverage. According to Grudzien, employers will lose grandfather status as soon as they increase deductibles, co-pays, or decrease employer contributions.
"Many employers are cutting back on healthcare benefits in order to keep costs down," said Grudzien. "But, as soon as they do that, they lose their grandfather status and, once that happens, the employer will need to provide preventive healthcare without co-pay or deductibles."
The regulations on grandfather status have an even greater impact on smaller professional firms that often distinguish between benefits for exempt and non-exempt employees. "A lot of professional firms have a real big issue with this because it can really impact their costs," said Grudzien.
Entrepreneurs are also concerned about whether they will be required to provide healthcare coverage and how much of a penalty they will need to pay if they do not comply. "This is an area that needs clarification," said Thompson. "Many small business owners are understandably concerned about the potential costs to them and how those costs will affect their ability to stay in business, but the ruling on this may be modified before the new law would implement it."
To help answer these questions, the ISBDC will be offering a two-hour seminar on October 13 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at the main campus of Joliet Junior College. The cost is $15 per person. "In this seminar we hope to provide facts to the small business owner so they can make better decisions about the future," said Thompson. "We will look at what is coming between now and 2013."
For more information, call (815) 280-1400, or e-mail sbdc@jjc.edu. Ask about the SBDC 2900 "Healthcare Reform and the Small Business" seminar.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College is one of the small business service providers in the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Customized Wind Technology Course Educates our Future Employees
On July 2, Joliet Junior College (JJC) hosted a Wind Camp for students of Farragut school in Joliet. The camp was led by a member of JJC's technical department and was part of the 21st Century Kids initiative by the State of Illinois.
"This was a hands-on" program that gave each child the opportunity to experience a wind tunnel, build wind powered sail boats, and fly kites to feel the power of wind," said Brenda Large, personal enrichment coordinator for JJC's Corporate and Community Services division. "The children were also introduced to green technology and future jobs in this field."
The students were taught by Technical Department instructor John Koepke with support from co-instructors Ben Koepke and Megan Quigley.
Commenting on how the students enjoyed the experience, Sue Green, kindergarten teacher at Farragut said, "We saw many students that were lacking in expressing their feelings of excitement, beaming with the satisfaction of building and flying their own kite."
Instructor Megan Quigley shared another student comment. "We never knew wind energy could turn on a light bulb, but Mr. Koepke showed us how," said the student. "He let everyone of us turn the wind tunnel on and watch the energy turn on the light bulb."
The school plans on doing more programs with JJC in the future. "We are currently working with Brenda on a Robots Camp in the future," said Green. "This was presented to our students as a possibility and they were very excited about attending it."
For more information about 21st Century Kids or other programs for young children available at JJC, call Brenda Large at (815) 280-1504, or e-mail blarge@jjc.edu.