Karen Bledsoe Email and Phone Number

• Provide supervision to Human Resources and Training staff in day-to-day responsibilities.• Work with management to anticipate and address potential employee relations issues. Develop and maintain fair employment policies and practices. Coordinate the District’s Employee Dispute Resolution (EDR) Plan and Adverse Action Policy and serves as EDR Coordinator. • Consult with and provide advice to District Court Executive, Chief Probation Officer and Chief Pretrial Services Officer on human resources issues, procedures, and practices, including employee relations, disciplinary actions, performance management, staffing, payroll, and related matters.• Perform generalist human resources activities, such as recruitment, new employee orientation, position classification, automated personnel action processing, leave management, to include FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, etc., benefits, and records management for multiple court units and chambers. • Advise unit executives, managers, and supervisors on leave administration, policies and tracking issues, in adherence to local leave policies and procedures, as well as those set forth in the Guide to Judiciary Policy. • Manage human resources policies, procedures, and standards for the district. • Manage performance management.• Monitor and evaluate the quality of work, level of compliance, and staff activities. • In coordination with the Training Specialists, identify training needs and requirements, develop materials, and implement programs in human resources related areas, such as annual law clerk orientation program, performance management, and Code of Conduct. • Establish relationships and maintain information sharing networks with court employees, other district and circuit human resources representatives, the Administrative Office, and external vendors. • Administer and manage assigned special projects, research and analyze information, and conduct similar activities, as applicable.

• Planned, directed, organized, coordinated, and reviewed human resources activities including staffing and recruiting employment services, payroll, classification/compensation and employee relations in support of a 3,600 employee organization, including 98 Judges and 66 Court Commissioners.• Responsible for oversight and management of professional and paraprofessional HR staff including monitoring and evaluating performance, managing workload, providing coaching, mentoring and training, and issuing discipline as appropriate.• Provided expertise and guidance to the human resources team, department management, and employees regarding employment laws and regulations and Judicial Branch policies and procedures.• Coordinated with department staff to plan all phases of recruitment including the length of time of recruitment, sources for recruitment, and content of recruitment materials. Directly handle executive recruitments, including Commissioner Selection process.• Conducted research and analysis related to position classification and compensation, including determination of initial placement in range salary offers, identified recruitment and/or retention concerns as related to salary; conducted market reviews, made recommendations to management regarding salary ranges and individual employee rates.

Progressively responsible positions and in various departments over the course of employment. • Provided Human Resources consultation and support.• Interpreted and explained County Merit Rules, Human Resource policies and procedures, and Federal and State regulations to managers, supervisors, and employees• Responded to employee concerns/complaints, conducted internal investigations, compile information, prepared corresponding reports on findings and outcomes, and provided guidance and recommendations to management.• Researched and responded to EEOC charges, including preparation and review of position statements, serving as department representative in mediation meetings, and responding to inquiries from legal counsel.• Provided guidance to supervisors regarding disciplinary matters, monitored for appropriate and consistent levels of discipline, prepared and reviewed disciplinary documents, and served as department representative in disciplinary hearings.• Advised on and handled complex leave management issues, ensuring compliance with laws (including the Americans with Disabilities Act, HIPAA, Family Medical Leave Act) and consulted with legal counsel and appointing authorities on reasonable accommodations and medical releases/terminations.• Advised on and handled complex accommodation issues, including those requested under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and those requested for religious reasons, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and consulting with legal counsel and department management in the analysis and implementation of the accommodations.• Worked with third party providers for workers’ compensation and short- and long-term disability claims.• Represented the departments on unemployment hearings.• Prepared and presented training on various HR topics to staff, supervisors and managers.