Del City hires HR consultant

By Lea Terry
Midwest City Beacon

As Del City undertakes several human resource projects, it’s enlisting the aid of an HR consulting firm to ensure regulatory compliance and to assist in the development, revision and implementation of multiple policies and procedures.

At its Feb. 17 regular meeting, the city council approved a contract with The People’s Perspective, a Broken Arrow-based firm that assists with everything from compliance to training to recruitment.

The contract covers 10 hours a month at a total cost of $1500 per month.

The agency will assist the city with several HR projects, including developing and revising HR policies and procedures, finalizing and implementing an employee handbook, and providing training to executive and supervisory level city employees.

City Manager JD Hock said the city decided it was more cost effective to enlist a consultant on an as-needed basis for the projects rather than hiring additional staff. He said after consulting with the agency, the city felt 10 hours per month was sufficient for the development and implementation of the specific projects it was seeking assistance for. The initial contract is for six months with the possibility of renewal, but Hock said he hopes all of the projects will be completed during that time.

Hock said working with The People’s Perspective will help ensure the city’s policies and procedures are aligned with federal employment laws such as the Family Medical Leave Act and the Fair

Labor Standards Act. The firm’s insight and experience of these laws, in addition to their training expertise, will help keep the city compliant, Hock said.

“This firm is providing that extra help that we need that can make sure all of the boxes are checked and all of our policies and procedures are solid prior to adoption,” Hock said.

In addition to assisting with specific projects, the agency will provide more in-depth training on employment laws and regulations. Hock said city employees have received general training in these areas but that the agency can provide more specialized training. This will then enable city employees to provide training for other staff members.

“The city is wanting to make sure that we are fully understanding of these and other HR laws, rules and best practices as we move forward with developing policies, procedures and internal training.”

Hock said the city has had a positive experience working with the agency, describing their training style as “incredibly adaptive.”