Human Resources Role
Human Resources staff members serve as facilitators of the conflict resolution process, bringing together involved parties and others as appropriate to work toward resolution. A Human Resources representative is the first point of contact for employees bringing issues to Human Resources for resolution. The Human Resources representative then oversees the process to insure that employees receive answers to their questions and concerns.
It is not Human Resources' role to take sides in an issue, but rather to assist in interpreting the parties' positions as well as University policies and practices which affect the outcome. In its approach to employee relations issues, Human Resources balances the needs and desires of individuals (employees and administrators) with the University's common good. Specifically, Human Resources serves as a resource to employees and supervisors in the following ways:
- help employees clarify problems or issues and how to present them to supervisors or managers
- assist supervisors and managers to clarify performance standards and positively communicate them to employees, including performance/conduct problems or deficiencies, and develop plans to help employees meet standards
- clarify the University's expectations of the respective roles of managers and employees as vital contributors to the Gonzaga community
- interpret and explain personnel policies and practices
- mediate conflicts or communication problems between or among individuals at their request
- train employee advocates and serve as a resource to them
- address with senior administrators unresolved conflicts or University policies/practices which contribute to employee relations issues.
