It's about the City's most valuable asset, greatest expense, and largest liability.  The human resources of any organization are indeed what we depend on to get the job done.  The City of Elkhart Human Resources Department (HR) is the hub that holds together a highly diverse workforce stretched throughout twenty-eight (28) departments performing a variety of functions to serve the community.

A department with a staff of four (4) employees, HR manages and maintains employee wage and benefit programs, personnel records, and services for 600 - 800 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees.  HR is instrumental in the hiring of new members of the City workforce from job posting through orientation and continuing with advising and assisting each employee in achieving success in a career in public service.  HR is also responsible for compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding all employment related issues including workers' compensation, equal opportunity, affirmative action and safety. The HR Department coordinates with all other City departments in regards to employee needs and management.

The Human Resources Department Head function encompasses all HR functions. The individual in this position is responsible for over-all planning and organizing short and long term strategies for all employee services & benefit programs.  Developing, initiating and administering employment policies, procedures and processes is the creative side to this position.  Under the HR Department Head's umbrella, is use of the human resources information systems.  Additionally this individual directs and coordinates all human resources activities, including labor/employee relations, risk management, loss control, employee safety & health, organizational & management development, employee personnel administration, investigating and preparing EEOC position statements, FMLA approval, wages, salary & benefits administration, and training & education programs.

The Benefits Coordinator (BC) is certainly the most popular member of the HR team providing invaluable assistance to City employees with enrollment and utilization of our group benefits plans. The BC spearheads the Benefits Advisory Committee; a group of City employees who meet monthly with our benefits consultant to exchange information and thoughts on providing employees with the most effective group benefits plans and strategies for the taxpayers' money. The individual in the BC position is also looked upon to play a supporting role in employee wellness initiatives.  This position is a catalyst between employees and benefit carriers and health care providers regarding health care coverage issues. Coordinating annual benefits open enrollment for employees to be fully informed about available benefit choices and costs, and providing the same information to new employees is a primary function of the BC job. Maintaining Workers Compensation, OSHA compliance, and group benefits records and performing related accounting functions well rounds out the workday for this individual.  

As one of the first individuals a new City employee interacts with the first day on-the-job, the HR Customer Service Manager (CSM) is at the hub of the hiring process.  This individual coordinates the pre-employment requirements as-well-as new employee orientation, channels new employee status information from the department through HR to payroll, and confirms I-9 information through E-Verify.   The CSM coordinates the City Safety Champion Committee, a group of City employees meeting monthly to review incidents and exchange information and thoughts on best safety practices, and organizes the annual health and safety fair for City employees.  This position oversees maintenance of all HR records and reports; responds to internal/external employment related inquiries, tracks the employee drug testing program, maintains City organizational charts, and maintains the departmental budget.  Additionally the CSM provides valuable input regarding departmental procedures and maintains record of such.

Probably the most important position to those of us in HR is the one that we depend on to support our endeavors.  That would be the Offices Services Clerk.  In a part-time capacity, the individual in this position fills in all the gaps in the clerical functions of the department.  This individual takes care of the filing, data entry, and any other duties thrown in that direction by the HR staff, members of the workforce and the community.  Fielding phone calls that come in to HR; either by addressing the needs of the caller or forwarding on to the appropriate individual to do so, gives this position a direct line to employee and community needs.

The Human Resources Department plays the instrumental role of serving those who serve the community.  We are pleased to provide the citizens of the City of Elkhart with a workforce of valued employees that is committed to public service and the needs of the community. 

Department News

• 2012 State of the City Address
  Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
  Mayor Moore's 5th Annual State of the City speech.
  
• Job Listings
  Published: Thursday, March 22, 2012
  City Job Openings
  

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