Lacey Partipilo recently sat down with employee relations expert Sheri Lautenbach. Sheri shares insights from her long career in human resources, sheds light on her role as an Employee Relations Manager, and gives advice for developing great leaders. Read on for Sheri’s thoughtful perspectives on building trust, preventing conflict, and strategically transforming workplaces.
What is your role at Xenium HR?
As the Employee Relations Manager, I oversee our employee relations practice and team. This involves not only responding to clients about their workplace concerns but also creating consistent processes for how we handle these concerns and provide advice.
Who is on your team?
I have two great team members, Tracy Callan and Emma Blake, who both have been with the organization for a couple of years and also have a considerable amount of HR experience. So together, we bring many, many years of experience to this realm of HR.
What key lessons from your past large corporate role shape your approach today?
I have over 30 years of experience and many lessons learned. I think if I had to boil it down to the most important ones that shape my perspective today, they would be: 1) employee relations issues are complex because they involve diverse people with different perspectives. 2)Treating people fairly doesn’t mean treating them exactly the same – it means listening and meeting individual needs. 3) Take time to listen without feeling you must solve everything immediately. 4) Coaching managers is key to minimizing conflict and retaining employees.
What feels different going from an in-house to a consulting model?
As a consultant, you don’t always know the outcome. In-house, you see the resolutions. As a consultant, you provide recommendations but don’t always learn the end result. This took some getting used to.
What do you like about outsourced HR?
I enjoy collaborating with other skilled HR people and providing expertise many clients don’t have in-house. We can deliver greater breadth and depth of experience.
What has changed in HR over the years?
Access to information! With the internet, we have endless best practices, data, and tools at our fingertips vs. the outdated binders of the past. We can provide higher-quality guidance by combining online resources and our real-world experience.
What challenges face HR in the near and long term?
Finding good talent at all levels. With less employer loyalty now, leaders must create an engaging culture and meet escalating employee expectations around flexibility, mobility, benefits, and social/economic issues. Providing leaders with the tools they need to recruit and retain talent should be a top priority.
How would you describe Xenium HR’s culture?
Xenium HR truly walks the talk on building great culture and engagement. If employees feel supported, they can better support clients. Most companies have a disconnect between their external culture statement and the internal reality, but Xenium HR’s commitment shows in how they treat their people. I have never felt more supported than I do at Xenium.
What advantages does outsourcing employee relations provide?
We bring an objective, impartial perspective without internal bias. Confidentiality for employees to air concerns comfortably. Expertise and thorough investigations with extensive experience. And time and resource efficiency – we have the bandwidth to dedicate attention that in-house HR may not.
What strategies help prevent employee relations issues?
Coaching managers to address issues promptly, build trust with employees, and provide psychological safety for open dialogue without retaliation. The manager relationship is key to minimizing conflict and, ultimately, turnover.
What advice would you give new HR professionals?
Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and learn. I think people say, “fake it till you make it”. I don’t know that I really like that. Listen, find a trusted mentor, and keep expanding your network. It’s a great field with so many opportunities to learn and grow.
What do you wish more people knew about HR?
That we are strategic business partners, not just administrators or order-takers. We have a lot to offer in transforming businesses and developing successful managers.