As an HR practitioner for the past 25 years, I can still say I love this field of work! HR consists of practices and policies that inform all aspects of employment. As a field, HR has undergone many changes over the past two decades that have shifted the role of HR from an administrative role to a strategic role. Functions of HR are executed in partnership with department heads, supervisors, designated committees, unions and employee associations, and the board of commissioners.
Specific roles of HR include staffing, training and development; retention; workplace policies; compensation design and benefits administration; laws affecting employment; worker safety, protection and wellness; and HR strategy pertaining to the county’s strategic plan as well as changes in the external environment.
Staffing involves recruiting (finding people to fill positions) and selection (designing and conducting interviews and job testing).
Training and Development ensures employees not only are trained to do the job but also continue to grow and develop new skills in their job. This results in higher productivity for the county. Training is also a key component in employee motivation. Employees who feel they are developing their skills tend to be happier in their jobs, which result in increased employee retention.
HR Policies ensure fairness and continuity of HR related decisions. In the development of policies, HR, department heads, unions and employee associations, and the board of commissioners are involved.
Compensation Design and Benefits Administration consist of ensuring compensation is fair and competitive with industry standards. Meeting or exceeding the industry standards for compensation and benefits is imperative to ensure we attract and retain high quality employees. Compensation includes anything the employee receives for his or her work. This involves setting pay systems that take into consideration years of experience, education, and other compensable factors.
Employment Laws are always changing, so HR must continually be aware of changes taking place and then communicate those changes to department heads and the board of commissioners. An HR professional might work with some of these laws:
• Discrimination laws
• Health-care requirements
•Compensation requirements such as the minimum wage
• Worker safety laws
• Labor laws
Safety is a major consideration of the county. Oftentimes new laws are created with the goal of setting federal or state standards to ensure worker safety. Unions and contracts can also impact the requirements for worker safety in a workplace. It is up to HR to ensure the workplace is meeting both federal and union standards. Worker protection issues might include the following:
• Chemical hazards
• Heating and ventilation requirements
• Road construction and other job-specific hazards
External Environment, or outside forces at play may affect the county’s employment practices and policies. Outside forces are those things that could positively or negatively impact HR, including changes to employment law; health care costs; changing demographics of the workforce; and technology.
HR is a dynamic field that has provided me with a rewarding career. I started my career at 3M Company in St. Paul, where I worked for 13 years in a variety of HR roles, including compensation, employee development, and organizational development (OD), which has a focus on change management and performance management. Also, I have been an HR director for two different companies where I had oversight for all HR functions. Further, I’ve worked as a senior HR & OD consultant for a management-consulting firm, and most recently, I was an assistant professor in the School of Business at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where I taught HR management and leadership.
I’m filled with gratitude that I’ve been given the opportunity to become Cook County’s HR generalist. It is my privilege to serve all stakeholders, including county employees, department heads, supervisors, unions and employee associations, the board of commissioners and by extension, the members of the Cook County community.
County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service
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