Rep. Shekarchi receives RI Society for Human Resource Management Public Servant Award
STATE HOUSE – Chairman of the House Committee on Labor K. Joseph Shekarchi was awarded the 2016 Outstanding Public Servant Award by the Rhode Island Society for Human Resource Management (RI SHRM) today, March 24, at its annual Legislative and Employment Law Conference at the Providence Marriot. The award acknowledges Representative Shekarchi’s significant contributions and advocacy for positive changes in the workplace and promoting open and transparent government.
“It’s truly an honor to receive this recognition and I thank the RI Society for Human Resource Management for this thoughtful award,” said Representative Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “We are not going to get our economy back on track without creating and protecting well-paying jobs and making it easier for employers to run their businesses. RI SHRM has been a tremendous partner over my legislative career in trying to strengthen our economy and I look forward to working with them for many more years to come.”
“Representative Shekarchi is a true advocate for business; he has encouraged Human Resources’ involvement in shaping public policy. It is motivating to have a legislator in a key role who welcomes and respects everyone’s opinion, runs transparent committee meetings and is responsive to acting on key issues that are facing RI employers in this difficult business climate. We are truly pleased to honor him with our 2016 Outstanding Public Servant Award,” said RI SHRM’s Government Affairs Director Cindy Butler.
Representative Shekarchi’s legislative record has been pro-business and consistent with the priorities of RI SHRM to improve the state’s workforce, and focused on job growth and economic development since he was elected in 2012. RI SHRM highlighted several pieces of Chairman Shekarchi’s legislation that was a motivating factor in him being selected as the 2016 Outstanding Public Servant including sponsoring the 2015 RI’s Qualified Jobs Incentive, which was included in the FY 2016 state budget. He also introduced legislation to amend the RI Temporary Disability Insurance program that would allow employees to have a choice, rather than a requirement, to participate in their employer’s sponsored short term disability program instead of the state run TDI program. Other workplace legislation that has been sponsored by Chairman Shekarchi included amendments to streamline the current RI Workers’ Compensation Act by allowing for electronic fund transfers to pay workers’ benefits and updates to the unemployment security benefit system to strengthen and protect against fraud.