What do you do as human resources director for Citizens Memorial Healthcare's 1,511-member staff?
Anything from helping to arrange an interview to helping an employee solve a benefits or payment of benefits issue to discipline or advice to managers. Most of my job falls into one of those four categories. I have a staff of seven who work with me on all those different things. (I oversee benefits) for employees at the hospital and clinics in Bolivar, six long-term care facilities and (outlying) clinics.
What challenges come with providing benefits to a large group?
We've tried to get around the overall (idea) that it's just the company picking benefits for employees. We've asked for volunteers from all of our work site locations and all levels of staff ... and we pull them all together (on a committee for a comprehensive review) every three years and say, "Here are our existing benefits. Are there things we're missing that you want us to look at?" Then we try to go out and get quotes and bids, and bring it back to the employees (to show) what it would take ... and we let them help us make that call. Meeting every three years is a minimum.
Can you give an example of how employee benefits have been shaped by staff input?
In 2007, our health insurance plan came back with a pretty significant adjustment, so we sent an e-mail out and asked people if they'd come in. We met with them and said, "This is the increase that everybody's going to see, or we can go back to the insurance company and say 'Let's look at some of these benefits and give us a new price.'" That's what they wanted to do, make sure that everybody could still afford the health insurance, even if it's not as robust a plan as we had. It's still good insurance.
Is a nationwide nursing shortage affecting CMH?
Yes. It's supply and demand. We've got five great nursing schools in Springfield/Bolivar, whether it be practical nursing at Bolivar Tech or Ozarks Technical Community College, or the (registered nurse) program at SBU-St. John's and Cox. They're all great programs, but there are four large systems plus the Joplin hospitals, all recruiting the same people. It's competitive, but it's a friendly competition. ... You have to sell on the benefits and amenities of being an employee.
Other health systems have used hiring initiatives, such as large signing bonuses, to recruit employees. Does CMH use anything like that?
We have, off and on, but we don't have a blanket (initiative) or anything like that. Our best recruiter has always been our employees, so we've always had in place something where if an employee refers a new hire, (the employee) can get $1,000. When ... we've needed to get a couple of positions very quickly, we will offer incentives to applicants coming in, but we haven't had to do that very often.
What are some key recent changes that affect your work?
Missouri enacted a minimum wage (hike) separate from the federal minimum wage, so as of Jan. 1, minimum wage changed ... and we'll look at it again in July for the federal wage. The state enacted e-Verify, which is a federal system for verifying illegal aliens, and that started in January. And there are also new Family and Medical Leave Act requirements that take effect this month.
Tell us about your family and hobbies.
My wife's name is Angela. We have two boys. Nathan is 8 years old and Logan is 14 months old. I'm not any good, but I love to play golf. A couple of buddies and I go shooting at Bass Pro as often as we can. And reading - I love Clive Custser and Tom Clancy.
