ERCS thus handled higher complexity policy application
and ER issues. The structure and organization
design included 12 Employee Relations
Consultants (ERCs), all of which were prior HRGs
with knowledge and expertise in employee relations.
In the initial start-up of ERCS, cases flowed
into ERCS electronically and were assigned to the
next available consultant, similar to a first-in, firstout
methodology. This approach required each
of the consultants to be well versed in all types
of employee relations issues and maintain a high
level of skill variety. However, since the initial face
to the customer was through an 800 number and
handled by a third-party service provider, the ERCS
had the feel of a call center despite the higher-level
service offering. As a result, a customer expectation
emerged that their request would be addressed
right away or within a very short period of time,
even though the calls related to complex ER matters
that often required partnership with internal
legal counsel and other staff functions.