Personnel Consultation

Retaining employees is important and will reduce high turnover costs. ESC's occupational analysts provide a broad range of services that can help you find out what you can do to enhance productivity and reduce turnover. ESC collects no fees for its services.

Employee Opinion Surveys
Satisfied employees are usually productive employees. ESC's opinion surveys are a means to gauge how your employees feel about management, supervision, benefits, and their work environment, among other issues. Though there is a pool of questions from which to develop the survey, each survey is customized to suit the employer's needs and maintain employee confidentiality. Analysts conduct the surveys on-site at the employer's convenience. In some cases, surveys are mailed. Survey results are reported in a spreadsheet format, breaking information into categories as well as work groups. Analysts review findings with management, making recommendations on areas of concern. Opinion surveys should be utilized by business establishments that are open to addressing the findings of the survey.

Turnover Consultation
High turnover can be costly to an employer. Staff time in training as well as production time is lost. ESC's post exit survey can help you identify the causes of turnover at your place of work. Questionnaires are mailed to former employees asking reasons for leaving and suggestions for improving the organization. The analyst reports the findings with recommendations for improvement.

Job Analysis and Specifications
Having accurate job descriptions is an important tool in selecting new employees as well as in evaluating an employee's work performance. Employers need to know the essential and marginal functions of the job while potential employees need to know what is expected of them. ESC's occupational analysts administer a questionnaire to determine the physical demands and working conditions of a particular job, and conduct interviews with supervisors and employees who have expertise in the job. Using the U.S. Department of Labor's job coding system, O*NET, as a guide, the analysts then compose a detailed description. The analysts can also train employers on how to write job descriptions.

Personnel Records and Procedures
Knowledge of an employer's policies and procedures is beneficial to the employee as well as to the employer. Having a work plan can greatly improve an employee's performance level by providing a clear blueprint for the tasks, expectations, and responsibilities that come with the position. ESC's occupational analysts can help employers by reviewing an existing handbook, offering guidance on developing an employee handbook as well as work performance plans. They can also review your company application for discriminatory language and offer generic applications for your use. The majority of North Carolina's employers are small businesses without a human resource department. ESC's occupational analysts offer the expertise that can help employers with personnel related questions they face at various times.

Seminars
Customized seminars are available on a variety of personnel-related issues including orientation practices, performance practices, sexual harassment, turnover and absenteeism. The occupational analysts will also develop presentations on additional topics by request.

If interested in any of these services, contact your nearest ESC office or one of the Occupational Analysts listed below.