2019 SHRM officers inducted

The 2019 Society for Human Resources Management NMI Chapter board of directors was inducted last Friday at Charley’s Cabaret in the Pacific Islands Club Saipan. (Bea Cabrera)

The Society for Human Resources Management NMI Chapter inducted its 2019 board of directors last Friday at Charley’s Cabaret of the Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio. The officers will govern the organization in continuing to promote high-performance workplaces and develop human resources management in the CNMI.

The eight-man team is headed by president Catherine Cachero, vice president Pina Deleon Guerrero, secretary Shirley Dotts, treasurer Denise Montenegro, and board members Frank Ada, Vanessa Deleon Guerrero, and Penelope Jones. The officers’ oath-taking was officiated by CNMI Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio.

Cachero who has been an active member of SHRM and served as board secretary last year. “We really got a great board this year and we do have others who stepped up who weren’t elected and we are tapping them in and to try to get them involved. I’m really excited and enthusiastic because we have board members from last year that have continued to stayed on,” she said.

“We also welcome others to get involved whether in committees and other capacities. We are already setting up our agenda including topics of importance in every employers mind in the CNMI such as labor and immigration,” she added.

Cachero said that top of the SHRM membership’s list of priorities is getting clarifications from the government about the new law on marijuana in the CNMI. “Aside from labor and immigration, we also like to address other questions like the legalization of marijuana and what kinds of procedures employers and businesses can do that can affect the employer-employee relationship with this new law.”

“There is still a lot of conflict between federal law and local and we see a lot of states that are legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use… If someone comes to work intoxicated what can employers do that is within the confines of the law?” she added.

Cachero is aware that there are no specific government regulations yet, but SHRM is looking forward to working with the commission that will set out rules in relation to the legal use of marijuana in the CNMI. “We don’t have the regulations yet so I can’t speak as to what implications in totality it has on the employment relationship and ultimately in the workplace and business,” she said.

“We would like to partner with as many agencies on island including that commission that will regulate marijuana use, but also CNMI Labor and other agencies that do touch on issues relevant to human resources and employer-employee relationship,” she added.