Video Introduction

Major: Management with Concentration in Human Resource Management

Job Title: Employee & Labor Relations Partner

Company: Collins Aerospace

Company Description:  Collins Aerospace is a company that designs, manufactures, and services systems and components for the aerospace industry. We work with customers and partners to create solutions for commercial aviation, business aviation, military and defense, helicopters, space, airports, and other industries. We have over 80,000 employees worldwide.

Did you have any initial career goals when you entered Isenberg? Were there any key moments or influences (a guest speaker, course, or extracurricular) during your time at Isenberg that changed or confirmed your career goals?

I applied to transfer to Isenberg at the end of my freshman year. I started college thinking that I wanted to be a lawyer because I did Mock Trial throughout high school and thought shows like Law & Order and Suits were cool. I was originally a Communication and Legal Studies major but thought that having business knowledge could help me in law. During my freshmen year of college, I participated in Mock Trial at UMass and our case was about employment discrimination. Some of the witnesses we studied for the case were in Human Resources (HR) and I was immediately drawn to the work described in the case. This influenced me to declare Management with a focus on HR as my major in Isenberg. I love the blend of helping people through difficult situations, the use of business knowledge, the application of policy, and the ability to influence policy that HR provides.

Can you share a favorite work assignment that could help a student understand more about what you do? 

As an Employee & Labor Relations Partner, a small part of my role is assisting the business in contract negotiations with the union. In June I went to DC with business leaders within our group, where I listened to our benefits specialist and chief negotiators prepare to enter the negotiation space. We had outside lawyers present to guide us on how to respond to the union’s requests as well as a mediator from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union also has a chief negotiator who spoke on the unionized employee population’s behalf. In the negotiation session, I was a notetaker responsible for capturing all of the points each negotiator made about different parts of the contract, such as company benefit offerings and pay structure. We still have a long way to go before the union and company agree on a contract, and the team meets every couple of months for subsequent negotiation sessions. We travel to different hotels and are usually in session for a couple hours a few days of the week. The rest of the time, the team reflects on what they would like to present when they are back in session.

Now that you’re in this position, what aspects have surprised you that you didn’t anticipate before starting? 

When I first started in HR, I was surprised by the amount of data analysis required on the job. My first HR role was in Total Rewards, where I managed the annual incentive planning process for employees outside of our HR Information System (HRIS), Workday. This meant that I had 325 employees’ personal, compensation, and job data in an Excel file I was responsible for updating with the input of HR business partners and leaders to reflect the annual bonuses awarded to them. I had to become familiar with building out formulas to pull in compensation data from external reports and update salary ranges based on inflation and FX rates in Excel. Total Rewards is a part of HR that is extremely data-heavy (many former finance professionals transition into HR through Total Rewards). Not all areas in HR are as data-heavy, but having the ability to put numbers behind people initiatives makes you a stronger HR professional. I would encourage anyone interested in HR to take the OIM classes at Isenberg seriously so that you will be successful using data to tell a story later on in your career.

What inspires you about the work you are doing in your industry? 

I like that I get to help people during the difficult parts of their workday. Part of my job is being a therapist (I took a few psychology classes because I thought this might be a field of interest), and I use the skills from counseling labs in my Employee Relations role. If someone feels they are being treated unequally at work or someone makes them uncomfortable, I give them space to voice their concerns. From there, I investigate those who may have witnessed what the source shares and I speak with any individuals accused of unprofessional behavior. I like the checks and balances this work has on corporate relationships and that I am both an advocate and investigator for employee rights, while also balancing my duty to the company. Ensuring that people feel safe and appreciated at work creates an equitable and productive environment for others. I was involved in Student Government, Conduct Advising, and also part of the College of Social & Behavioral Science at UMass, so I appreciate that I am able to blend my interest in business with my interest in advocacy through HR work.

What are some daily challenges you experience in your role?   

Most of my job centers around coaching leaders through uncomfortable conversations. For example, if someone is being laid off, I prepare the documentation with the leader, get approval from legal, and inform relevant stakeholders of the action. I help prepare the leader and provide them with a script of how to notify their employee and am present during the conversation, should the employee have questions. I also walk them through their benefits package and try to expedite the exit process. It’s difficult to remain neutral when someone else is upset or when I worry that I may say the wrong thing which may lead to a lawsuit. However, many of us in Employee Relations feel that we are capable of this work, and we would rather someone who is empathetic and prepared for these situations be there to guide others through it.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently while a student at Isenberg? 

I really wish I looked into studying abroad when I was a student! I was so focused on my involvement on campus and friendships in Amherst, that I didn’t want to break away and be somewhere different. I know that not everyone can study abroad, but if you can afford it and it fits with your academic goals, I think it is such a unique opportunity. Once you are working, you only have so much time off in the year and it’s hard to fully immerse yourself in a culture when you are traveling somewhere for one week versus a whole semester of time. It could also be a great opportunity if you ever want to work abroad to start laying the groundwork to build your network somewhere.

Networking is extremely important but can be intimidating to undergraduates. What tips do you have for getting started engaging with alum or upperclassmen? 

I wouldn’t overthink networking. The way that it is discussed in college seems intimidating and like you have to force yourself to build a connection with many people. However, every time you work with someone on a project, talk to a professor and reach out to an alumni with a genuine question, you are networking. If you reach out to someone and you have one short conversation and you don’t click with that person, move on. Networking comes naturally when you are regularly communicating with someone and you have the opportunity to prove who you are to them over time. When you do find someone you enjoy speaking to, schedule time to talk to them again. I still reach out to my two favorite Isenberg professors and we have a couple of conversations a year. I had many more than two professors at UMass, but those were the two I clicked with and have effortlessly been able to maintain our relationship. It’s okay not to be super close with everyone, but putting yourself out there allows you to find the people with whom you genuinely connect.

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