City of Auburn | Human Resources

Human Resources

Steven A. Reeves
SPHR, IPMA-CP, Director
Employees: 7 www.auburnalabama.org/hr webhr@auburnalabama.org

Responsibilities

The Human Resources Department is responsible for the successful administration of various employment-related functions and programs including:

employee recruitment and selection
employee development
compensation and benefits management
employee relations
risk management

The Human Resources Department's activities promote the efficient and effective delivery of quality services to citizens and enhance safety within the community.

Statistics
FY 2011

As of July 31, 2012, a peak employment month due to seasonal employment, the Human Resources Department was providing services to 793 employees including the Auburn Water Works Board. This is down from 816 employees at the same time last year. The full-time employment equivalency for all employees is 630.
Sixty-four percent of Regular employees live in Auburn and 19 percent live in Opelika.
Last year, the City received 3,857 applications, an average of 67 applications per vacancy (84 applications per external vacancy). Sixty-four percent of the applicants report learning of the job opportunity through the Internet.
Thirty-five percent of Regular employees have 10 or more years of service and 20 percent have 15 or more years of service.
The employee turnover rate increased slightly to 6.25 percent from 5.76 percent but is still well below the turnover rates experienced in the late 90s and early 00s.
Last year, ten employees retired. Eighty-four employees are eligible to retire now or in the next five years.
The City continues to average about one employee grievance per year, an ongoing testament to effective supervisory practices and fair treatment of employees.

Background

The Human Resources Department is a small department of seven fulltime employees whose primary duty is to help the organization succeed in providing high quality, cost effective services to the citizens of Auburn. Within that role are a few very important functions:

To maintain an environment that treats employees with respect and courtesy while promoting professionalism and accountability;
To make the City of Auburn a very desirable place to work for people who are dedicated to serving this community; and
To protect the City and its employees from losses due to injuries, accidents, and liability claims.

Accomplishments

As of August 2012, the Human Resources Department has made very good progress in accomplishing its 2012 goals. During the remainder of the fiscal year, seminars on leadership and motivation will be presented and production of the updated new-hire orientation video will continue. In addition to the 2012 goals, the department implemented E-Verify to comply with Alabama immigration law; completed the final phase of the automated time and attendance implementation project; shopped and placed the commercial insurance packages for the City and the Auburn Water Works Board; released a request for proposals to administer the employee payroll-deducted supplemental insurance benefits program and placed that business; released a request for proposals for the third party administration of the City’s worker’s compensation claims; is currently shopping the City’s group life insurance benefit to ensure the best rates possible for the coverage provided; and continues to promote wellness through its wellness program and preventive benefits available through the health insurance plan.

Among its goals and activities during the next biennium, the Human Resources Department will continue to monitor and comply with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. The Department will facilitate employee development through the customer service certification program, the supervisor certification program, and the crew leader development program. Building on the success of these programs, the department will develop and implement a new supervisor training program designed to promote safety and risk management awareness.

Training will also be provided in leadership and human resource management. In regard to safety, monthly safety inspections will be conducted and the use of pre-employment physicals will be expanded from police and fire personnel to other jobs requiring significant physical effort to avoid placing people in jobs that they cannot safely perform with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

Statistics FY 2011

Background

Accomplishments

Statistics
FY 2011