BHSHRM September Newsletter
President's Report
I have missed seeing everyone this summer! As we get back into the swing of regular programming, September is shaping up to be a busy month for BH SHRM. We have several opportunities coming up to learn, connect, and get involved, and I hope you’ll take advantage of what we have planned.
As we began looking at 2027 programming, the Board decided to form a Program Planning Committee. The committee will help us come up with topics, speakers, and other ideas that would be valuable to our members. We want to hear what you would like to see from BH SHRM. If you are interested in joining the committee and helping with the planning, please email me for more information.
If you don’t have the time to join the committee but have a program idea or a speaker you’d like to suggest, I would still love to hear from you. And if you have recipes, jokes, or memes to share, I want to hear those too! All ideas, including entertaining HR content, are welcome.
We have two great opportunities to get together this month. Our Compensation Panel is September 22nd, and we will celebrate HR Professionals Day with a networking event on September 26th. Both are good opportunities to get out of the office, learn something new, and spend some time with other HR professionals.
BH SHRM is at its best when members get involved, share their ideas, and bring different perspectives to the conversation. Our chapter is stronger because of the people who are willing to contribute, whether by joining a committee, suggesting a speaker, attending an event, or sending along a good meme.
I’m looking forward to a busy fall and getting started on some new ideas for 2027. I hope to see you at one of our September events!
Ara Baumstarck, President
BH SHRM
Welcome New Members
Erin Boomsma | HR Generalist for Pennington County
Katy McPherson | HR Generalist for Pennington County Sheriff's Office
Kristina Frisk | HR Manager for Complete Health
Kelsey Kosbaby | HR Generalist for Brink Constructors, Inc.
Yovana Estrella Johnson | HR Manager for Pennington County
Chaela Holmes | HR Manager for Crazy Horse Memorial
Legislative Update
SD DOL News and Events: Did you know that the SD Department of Labor has a List of Various News items/events on their website? Here you will find the latest news relating to Labor's various programs. Check it out below.
https://dlr.sd.gov/news/default.aspx
The Department of Labor and Regulation is offering a free virtual Apprenticeship Knowledge Series session focused on developing and launching a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
This free webinar will be held via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. CDT / 10:30 a.m. MDT. The session is open to employers, education partners, community stakeholders, and current or prospective RAP sponsors and supervisors.
Whether an employer is exploring Registered Apprenticeship for the first time or ready to begin building a program, this session offers a straightforward overview of what to expect at each step.
Registration is required. Visit https://tinyurl.com/dlr-workshops and select the calendar listing for the event. For additional information, contact the Start Today SD Team at [email protected] or 605-610-7031.
Employer Guidance on Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit Issued – source SHRM.org
The IRS and the Treasury Department issued a notice Aug. 5 on the tax credit for employers offering qualifying paid family and medical leave, unveiling new details on how employers can take advantage of incentives. The guidance explains how employers can claim the permanently expanded credit enacted under the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts legislation and outlines several changes intended to broaden employer participation.
Midday Remote Work Just Got a Boost – source SHRM.org
Employers concerned about Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rules may feel empowered to grant midday remote work following a recent U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) opinion letter. That’s because the DOL found that an ordinary commute between work and home to telecommute was not compensable work time.
Any time employees spend traveling between their home and their primary worksite within a workday may be excluded from recorded work time, so long as such travel is otherwise a normal or ordinary commute that primarily benefits the employee, the DOL stated in FLSA2026-9.
“While 2026-9 is not a controversial interpretation of the FLSA by any stretch, and is well in line with how I think most everyday people would assume the law works, the impact on workplace policies and flexibility could be huge,” said Claire Deason, an attorney with Littler in Minneapolis.
Newly Proposed H-1B Fee Would Add Over $100K to Hiring Costs – source SHRM
The Trump administration has proposed a new $103,265 fee for employers filing H-1B petitions subject to the annual visa cap, significantly increasing the potential cost of hiring foreign workers through the H-1B lottery. The fee would be in addition to existing filing fees and would apply to the annual 85,000 cap-subject visas, including those reserved for workers with qualifying U.S. advanced degrees.
The proposal would not apply to cap-exempt H-1B petitions, including many positions at universities and nonprofit or government research organizations.
The fee is not currently in effect. The public will have a 30-day comment period before USCIS considers whether to issue a final rule. Legal challenges are also expected if the proposal is finalized.
For employers, the proposal adds another layer of cost and uncertainty to H-1B recruiting and may affect future workforce planning, recruiting strategies, and the use of international talent. The next H-1B cap season begins in spring 2027.
New immigration forms introduced – source SHRM
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will introduce new editions of two commonly used immigration forms, with no grace period for applicants using the older versions.
Form I-539 — used by eligible foreign nationals to extend or change their temporary immigration status; and
Form I-765 — used to apply for work authorization — are set to change starting Sept. 15.
USCIS will publish new versions of the forms with a version date of September 15, 2026.
The changes are intended to align the forms with a recently published final rule establishing fixed periods of admission and procedures for extensions of stay for certain foreign national students and exchange visitors.
EEOC Hearing on EEO-1 Rescission – source SHRM
On Aug. 11, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public hearing on its proposed rescission of EEO-1 reporting requirements, at which the majority of the twenty-two witnesses urged the commission to retain or modernize the framework rather than eliminate it.
EEOC Proposes Changes to Complaint Process for Federal Employees – source SHRM
The EEOC has proposed changes aimed at simplifying and speeding up discrimination complaints for federal employees and job applicants. Key changes would eliminate mandatory pre-complaint counseling, reduce reliance on administrative judge hearings, and increase reporting on complaint outcomes.
The proposal does not affect private-sector EEOC charges and is not yet final. A 30-day public comment period will follow publication in the Federal Register.
Social & Membership Event
Celebrate HR Professionals Day!
Join us on Saturday, September 26 as we celebrate HR Professionals Day with a fun and casual networking mixer! This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow HR professionals, share experiences, and build new connections in a relaxed setting.
📍 Fireside Coffeehouse - 324 St Joeseph
📅 Saturday, September 26; 8:30 AM
Come grab a coffee, meet other HR professionals, and celebrate the important work we do in the HR community. We hope to see you there!
