Contra Costa County Human Resources Department contracted with CPS HR Consulting to conduct a study of the staffing needs of the personnel units in both the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD), and in the Health Services Department (HSD). The study conducted in EHSD was an in-depth analysis of the personnel transaction functions, but did not include any analysis of the payroll staffing and functions. This study was completed over a two-year period and included a recommendation that EHSD “should add a first line supervisor position to assist in the day to day management of staff. This will allow the current supervisor (the Departmental Personnel Officer) to focus on the programmatic requirements that have been delegated as unmet work requirements and management oversight of the division, and provide guidance in the Personnel arena at the departmental level, while providing a position that can focus on appropriate work distribution and supervisory guidance in addition to helping the current supervisor with backlogged projects/requirements and assist with running the day to day operation of the Personnel Division."
The CPS study, conducted in 2018-19 and issued in February 2020, recognized the extraordinary workload under the Departmental Personnel Officer for the daily transaction activities, however as previously noted, did not account for the additional work associated with the supervision and administration of the payroll unit and its functions. Further, the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have brought significant increases in personnel transactions such as recruiting, testing, hiring, on-boarding, timekeeping, FMLA, LOA, labor relations issues, interactive meetings, tracking and monitoring.
Currently, the Personnel Unit of the Employment and Human Services Department consists of thirty (30) professional, paraprofessional and assistant staff, performing a wide scope of human resources activities including payroll. All staff report to and are supervised by the Departmental Personnel Officer, who is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Personnel Unit.
The Departmental Human Resources Supervisor will be responsible to coordinate and guide the activities of the personnel team and ensure the efficient and timely completion of day-to-day work. This position will perform comprehensive professional human resources work, handle the most complex and sensitive project assignments, supervise personnel staff, and will be responsible for assigned personnel functions within the personnel unit.
Employment and Human Services Department was granted a freeze exemption on August 10, 2020 to move forward with adding the Departmental HR Supervisor position.
Failure to add the recommended Departmental Human Resources Supervisor position will continue to deepen the work overload and the unmet work requirements for the entire personnel unit and will continue to negatively impact the effectiveness and stability of EHSD.