A Message From: Employee Relations Officer Services
Austin Community College’s (ACC) Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance (EOC) launches a new informational series to provide tips and advice for nurturing a welcoming and productive workplace.
In the first of the series, ACC’s Employee Relations Officer (ERO), Kelly Torrico, shares a look at the types of support the ERO office can provide to ensure employee concerns are resolved fairly, efficiently, and consistently.
ROLES OF THE ERO
- Formal Grievances | For formal grievances, the ERO will provide neutral and unbiased, timely, and documented hearing of formal Employee Grievances. The ERO oversees the process in accordance with ACC’s Administrative Rule but does not conduct the investigation
- Informal Resolution | For informal resolution, the ERO will provide conflict resolution options to prevent escalation to a grievance or other action. The ERO makes recommendations to improve workplace performance and interpersonal issues but does not personally facilitate a mediation.
- Coaching | For coaching, the ERO will provide feedback to invest in the development and performance of employees and teams. The ERO advises on progressive discipline and involuntary terminations but does not approve or mandate a course of action.
- Referrals & Partnerships | For referrals and partnerships, the ERO serves as a formal, private resource for employee, supervisor, and employer relationships. The ERO connects individuals with college partners to provide additional support or counseling but does not address illegal discrimination and is private, but does not guarantee confidentiality.
The ERO position is relatively new to ACC. Torrico started in the role in May of this year. To learn more about the office and all the support opportunities available to employees, visit the EOC website.