Provide overall advice and counsel to employees regarding their array of benefits (health, life insurance, dental insurance, deferred compensation, pension, etc.) and to Departmental Managers/Supervisors on compliance and enforcement of Merit Rules, employment laws, and rules and regulations.  Serve as labor relations in-house experts while providing guidance to Managers/Supervisors in managing employee relations and collective bargaining/labor issues.

Serve as Departmental experts in an array of training events such as sexual harassment, cultural diversity, new employee orientation, principles of quality, and system of care.  Act as resource to Managers/Supervisors and divisional trainers, maintain a library of reference materials (visuals and periodicals) and manage the Department’s educational tuition program.  Participate in employee surveys, conduct focus groups where appropriate, and provide training on the employee performance and review process.

Act as the in-house experts in providing advice and counsel to all levels of staff related to these protections, in addition to monitoring compliance with relevant federal and state statutes governing equal employment opportunities.  Provide a compliant process and initiates investigations with respect to the enforcement of the Department’s Diversity/Affirmative Action policies including Equal Employment Opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act and the Handicap Education Act.  Administers a Workplace Mediation Program and serves as the Department’s Employee Assistance Program liaison.