Consulting

HR Consultants are responsible for assisting clients with strategically integrating effective HR processes, programs and practices into their daily operations. Their role is also to maximize the client's performance related to human resources by introducing or marketing "best practice" products or services as well as to provide periodic feedback to clients regarding their performance related to annual management objectives. To accomplish this, the HR Consultant may need to perform needs assessments or audits and make recommendations or proposals, coordinate the creation and implementation of an action or corrective plan, and when required, organize and coordinate cross-functional Human Resource teams to assist the client with developing and implementing performance improvement corrective plans, programs or processes.

To contact an HR Consultant, please see our Staff Directory. Our daily operating hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, in the event of an emergency, an on-call representative may be contacted from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. by pager at 410-283-8225. To make an appointment, contact Zina Brown, Phipps 481, at 410-955-6783. For labor relations matters, such as mediation or the filing or status of a grievance or appeal, please contact Connie Lewis at 410-955-5164.

Labor Relations

HR Consultants are responsible for working with management and employees to provide guidance, direction and advice about the application or interpretation of human resources and labor policies, practices and procedures. The HR Consultant also works closely with Legal (Compliance), Equal Employment Opportunity, Security, Safety and Health (Occupational Injury), Infection Control and other departments or offices to ensure that managers and employees comply with federal, state and local employment laws and regulations, and that management responds to correct and address violations in order to promote and foster a safe and hostile free work environment.

HR Consultants also are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the conflict resolution process or program by providing guidance and advice to management when employees file complaints or claims with Human Resources related to employment policies, procedures or practices.

The HR Consultant Coordinator, Connie Lewis, is responsible for working closely with the HR Consultants and Director to maintain the integrity of the Conflict Resolution Process and Program as well as managing, coordinating and tracking informal claims or complaints. The coordinator also maintains records and a database pertaining to appeals, grievance, mediation, compliance line, HIPAA and other formal cases that require HR interventions; communicating and coordinating unemployment hearing notices; and drafting and finalizing response letters, settlements and agreements. Connie Lewis may be reached at 410-955-5164.

Working with Us

• Consulting
  Each department is assigned a specific HR Consultant designated to assist managers and employees on the job. See our Staff Directory for a list of all HR Consultants.

Please feel free to stop by or call us during our daily operating hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or schedule an appointment by contacting Zina Brown, Phipps 481, at 410-955-6783.

Employees with labor relations concerns, such as being disciplined by a manager or a problem with a co-worker, should contact the HR Consultant Coordinator, Connie Lewis, at 410-955-5164.

In the event of an emergency, an on-call representative may be contacted from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. by pager at 410-283-8225.

• Labor Relations
  The HR Consultant Coordinator manages and tracks all labor issues and labor-related cases, including grievances, appeals, mediation, arbitrations, compliance line reports and HIPAA violation claims. Typically, the process is as follows:
  • The Coordinator creates the file and collects the initial paperwork, then gives it to the HR Consultant assigned to the department involved in the labor matter.
  • The HR Consultant meets with management to review the charge. Management is responsible, with oversight from the Consultant, to schedule a meeting with the employee to discuss or review the matter and make a determination whether to uphold the decision, overturn it, or reach a settlement. The HR Consultant will serve as a mediator, not representative of either party.
  • Once a determination is made, management works with the HR Consultant to provide a response to the employee. The HR Consultant will collect documentation supporting the outcome from management and then return the file to the HR Consulting Coordinator.
  • When applicable and in cases where an employee wishes to appeal the issue to a higher step (i.e., Step 3) in the process, the HR Consulting Coordinator will provide guidance to the employee, process the completed paperwork, and commission a review committee. The HR Consultant will serve as an advisor and expert to the committee on policy application.
  • The HR Consulting Coordinator is responsible for providing the Consultant or management with various types of standard agreements and documents to communicate decisions or settle disputes.
  • If an employee wishes to explore mediation as an option to resolving conflict unrelated to conflict dealing with policy administration, the employee should work directly with the HR Consulting Coordinator, who will review the policy and theory of mediation, obtain the necessary documentation and signatures, and assign the case to a trained mediator. The HR Consulting Coordinator will also oversee the scheduling of the mediation, including the room and equipment.

The HR Consulting Coordinator, Connie Lewis, can be reached at 410-955-5164, Phipps 481, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the event of a weekend or after hours emergency, a representative may be contacted through the Evening or On-Call Administrator, or by calling Centrex at 410-955-5000.