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Human Resources - Employee & Labor Relations feat. Kendra Lee, Esq.
133 Plays1 year ago
Today, we’re discussing Human Resources with a specialty in Employee & Labor Relations. Human Resource Managers focus on the efficiency of the relationship between employee and employer, so they often wear many hats that include Legal, Business & Project Management. Employee Relations Specialists focus on preventing problems between employees and management. They create policies that are fair and consistent for everyone in the workplace. Labor Relations often deal with Union negotiations. They influence performance management, disciplinary action, settlement agreements and an extensive list of other complex issues.
Today’s guest is Kendra Lee, Esquire, an HR Consultant focused on Employee & Labor Relations with the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Kendra has served the VA for over 9 years leveraging her MBA & JD to establish a motivating and healthy work environment that will ultimately serve Veterans. She loves that she gets to use her expertise & pragmatism to solve dilemmas and is known around her parts as a SME or Subject Matter Expert.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leekl2003/
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Transcript
Artistic Metaphor in Career Transition
00:00:00
Speaker
The best way to draw this masterpiece or create this masterpiece would be to go from almost darkness to light. So maybe, you know, deep in outer space in the depths of darkness but getting closer to the sun where you can see more and there's clarity and there's warmth and understanding.
Introduction to Podcast & Career Fulfillment
00:00:27
Speaker
What's up world? I am your host, BA, and this is Take Your Homeboy to Work Day podcast, your favorite podcast to learn about careers. Here's what you can expect by tuning in. Each episode, I'll invite a guest to share their career journey from a youth in school to their rise as a professional. We'll learn the nuts and bolts of jobs, and I'll ask how what they do shows up in our everyday lives.
00:00:56
Speaker
Finally, I'll have them open up about how they find fulfillment through their work. So for anyone interested in hearing the firsthand experience of a specific career, these conversations are your launching pad.
Understanding HR Roles
00:01:10
Speaker
Today, we're discussing human resources with a specialty in employee and labor relations.
00:01:17
Speaker
Human resource managers focus on the efficiency of the relationship between employee and employer. So they often wear many hats that include legal, business, and project management. Employee relations specialists focus on preventing problems between employees and management. They create policies that are fair and consistent for everyone in the workplace.
00:01:45
Speaker
Labor relations often deal with union negotiations. They influence performance management, disciplinary actions, settlement agreements, and an extensive list of other complex issues.
Meet Kendra Lee: HR Consultant at VA
00:02:00
Speaker
I've often looked at HR as the cops of a business, which may not have been the healthiest perspective. So when I had the chance to invite a human resources expert, I was delighted to be able to learn more.
00:02:14
Speaker
Today's guest is Kendra Lee Esquire, an HR consultant focused on employee and labor relations with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Kendra has served the VA for over nine years, leveraging her BMBA and JD to establish a motivating and healthy work environment that will ultimately serve veterans.
00:02:38
Speaker
She loves that she gets to use her expertise and pragmatism to solve dilemmas and is known around her parts as a schme or subject matter expert. Listeners, get prepared to expand your perception of what and who HR is. Welcome to the show, Kendra. Thank you so much. And that was a great introduction.
00:03:00
Speaker
Awesome. I'm glad you loved it. Thank you for coming on. I gave a brief description of what HR is, employee and labor relations, but I'd love to hear it directly from you. What is it that you do?
00:03:14
Speaker
So, specifically, I am considered a human resources consultant, and currently I train our HR specialists nationwide at the VA on employee and labor relations issues and how to address them. So, employee and labor relations, like you mentioned, it deals with a multitude of issues, but
00:03:38
Speaker
And to simplify it, it's dealing with disciplinary actions, negotiations with the union, and making sure that the agency is in line with the contract that we have with our different union partners. And then just providing a way to address a lot of issues. There's a little bit of reasonable accommodation that's under employee labor relations. Our workmen comp group is under labor relations. And some of our benefits, such as our leave programs,
00:04:05
Speaker
they also fall under labor and employee and labor relations. So we have a multitude of things that we deal with for our agency. Wow, that sounds extensive. I guess what initially drew your interest into this career or industry? How did you learn about it? Was there a specific person that introduced you to it? How did you get into it?
00:04:29
Speaker
So it's funny you say that. Originally, I wasn't interested in this field, and I never actually thought about it. Ironically, when I was in law school, my law school is actually a hub for employee and labor relations issues from a private sector standpoint.
00:04:49
Speaker
And every year they have a conference from a federal and private sector standpoint where everyone gets together and talks about issues and things like that. But I never was involved when I was a student. I never really got engaged in it. It wasn't until I graduated law school and I took a position in human resources as a human resources specialist dealing with compensation that I actually learned about employee and labor relations. And I felt like it was a good
00:05:18
Speaker
fit for my legal background and my legal experience. And so that's when I started pursuing this particular career field and I was able to get a position in South Texas and from there I just grew.
00:05:33
Speaker
Awesome, awesome, thank you for sharing that. You know, one thing that I love my guests to learn right off the bat is the financial side, especially since we live in America where money is such a huge important part of our lives and what we talk about. So if you would be willing, you don't have to share your experience, but if you could share possibly the range of, you know, an entry-level job into this field, how much can someone expect to make?
Exploring Federal HR Pay Ranges
00:06:00
Speaker
So it definitely varies. And so the good news is all of the information about pay is available online for government employees. And so human resources specialists ranges from a GS7, which usually GS7 employees can use their educational background as the basis to get hired, or they can use their actual experience.
00:06:29
Speaker
So one of the good things about being a federal employee is, honestly, you don't have to go to school. It's not a requirement. But if you do go to school, you can use that to help push you up the pay scale a little bit. So that works in your favor.
00:06:43
Speaker
When you go online, you can go to OPM's website. It lists all of the pay skills for GS employees specifically. A GS7 makes anywhere from $44,740 up to $58,158.
00:07:03
Speaker
how that works is it's a range so each grade has steps in between and how do you how you get to the steps varies based on how you come into employment so on and so forth but the top level for a human resource specialist is a GS12 and a GS12 can make anywhere from 79,363 all the way up to 103,176
00:07:29
Speaker
Now, the amount that I'm quoting you is based on what they call the rest of the US locality pay. So if you live in a big city like I do, I live in Houston, the locality is much higher than what you get on the rest of the US. So you can always go on OPM's page and look and see if your city or your area has a specific locality, and then that'll help gauge
00:07:54
Speaker
approximately how much the pay is. Now, another good thing about government employment is when you look online or you apply online, the job postings usually have the pay range for that position. So if it says the position is a GS7 to a GS12, it'll give you the lowest range of a GS7 in that area for that position and the highest pay for a GS12
00:08:21
Speaker
in that area, in that region. So it's always available on USAJobs to see how much the pay would be for that particular position. Awesome. Thank you for sharing that and especially where people can find out that information. That's really helpful and very important. So I really appreciate the transparency for sharing that. Thanks.
00:08:42
Speaker
No problem.
Mission of VA and HR's Role
00:08:43
Speaker
So now let's talk about the VA specifically because the VA is always in the news. So I guess first, companies or institutions create jobs with a purpose. And so what is the purpose of the VA naming you as the human resources specialist that helps with labor negotiations and employee negotiations?
00:09:08
Speaker
What do they expect from you to return to them from the work that you do? So the expectation for any VA employee
00:09:20
Speaker
And before I even go into that disclaimer, these are all my opinions and nothing I'm saying is on behalf of the agency whatsoever. But in general, the great thing about our agency is our mission is to care for those who board the battle, their widows and their children. So we have a very specific mission and every position, every job that is in the VA
00:09:43
Speaker
the goal is to care for our veterans and their families. And so that makes it simple. That's the main expectation that whatever I do, I'm making sure that our veterans are getting taken care of as best as possible, their families and their children.
00:09:56
Speaker
So how does that tie into HR? How does that tie into employee labor relations? The way I interpret it or the way I like to convey it is that we make sure that we hire the best and the brightest in the agency. We make sure that those folks have what they need.
00:10:14
Speaker
so that they're able to do their job from an HR perspective. So, you know, when they have questions about HR issues, pay, whatever, where their resources, where who they can go to to get that information and get any clarity that they need. Because it's really not easy being a government employee. There's a lot of nuance. And honestly, it sometimes takes a couple years to really learn what it means and how
00:10:38
Speaker
government employment actually works. And that can be frustrating. So it's great to have your HR staff there who can help answer those questions. But on the other side of it, we help employees that are not a good fit for the agency find their
00:10:56
Speaker
their exit strategy. So that's how I like to say it. We don't fire people. We help people find their exit strategy so that they can find a position or an opportunity that's a better fit for them and who they are and what they need in their life. And so oftentimes I try to use these opportunities to help people learn more about themselves
00:11:17
Speaker
because sometimes you have young people that are starting their career, they make mistakes, you know, it happens, but it's a learning opportunity. Sometimes people have health issues and they can no longer do their job anymore. And unfortunately, they're no longer able to work for the agency. However, you know, there's a respectful manner in which you go about that process. And so I think in planning and labor relations, it can come off as very negative. People are like, oh, you fire people.
00:11:46
Speaker
Uh, no, we just, we help people understand that they are not their job. They're not what they do. Um, they are valuable in their own right. And that sometimes, you know, being in a position is no longer a good fit for whatever reason. And that's okay.
00:12:03
Speaker
I love your use of language. And just in general, I love how you said that just because an opportunity didn't work doesn't reflect on you. It just wasn't the right opportunity and then pursue something new or find or try something different so that you can work for you. So very well said about even the tough part about what people think about HR.
00:12:26
Speaker
Yes, everything's all about perspective, and I definitely try to make sure that people understand that your job is not all-consuming. You are a person outside of your work, and you're valuable no matter what. But sometimes things happen, whether it's in your control, out of your control, and you're no longer able to fit the role that we need you to fit.
00:12:49
Speaker
something has to happen. It has to be addressed. But how you look at it and how you move forward makes all the difference, you know? Yeah, definitely. You mentioned some things about, you know, sometimes it can be difficult working for the government. It's known for its bureaucracy. You know, you mentioned there's a lot of nuances. What inspired you to want to give your skills to working for the VA or a government institution? Well,
00:13:17
Speaker
One, they gave me an opportunity. So when I graduated from Florida A&M, I had the opportunity to work for Homeland Security for three years in an intern program. Now, mind you, it's a full-time job. So technically, it's not what you would normally consider an intern. But their idea of an intern is more like a recent grad, and it's somebody that you develop in a particular role or position.
00:13:41
Speaker
So at the time, it was an accounting position. I worked for ICE under Homeland Security, and they trained me as a federal accountant. And it was a great experience. I learned so much, and I really grew from that opportunity. But working for the VA added the additional element of the mission. And I really like the mission at the VA because
00:14:07
Speaker
I'm a military brat. My dad was in the Air Force. My uncle was in the Navy. My aunt was in the Army and my grandfather was in the Marines. So I feel a special kindred to our veterans. And so I love that I'm able to go to work and help my veterans and
00:14:25
Speaker
explain things to them and help them get the care that they need and make sure that the VA is better now than it was in the past. So it's a great mission and I really enjoy it and it makes work fun. I work with my family. That's how I feel. I work with family every day. Wow.
00:14:46
Speaker
First, that's an amazing mission to channel your energy, especially with that connection to family. So thank you for sharing that. You mentioned the word fun. And so that's a perfect segue into my next question.
Impactful Moments in HR
00:15:00
Speaker
I guess over the past nine years, or even if you want to share your experience from ICE, what has been the most fun experience? Or maybe, let me ask you this a way. When have you felt the most powerful in your job?
00:15:14
Speaker
What have you accomplished that made you feel the most powerful? What have I accomplished that makes me feel the most powerful? That is a great question. I feel most powerful when I am able to help our veterans and our employees solve issues and problems that are heavy and big for them. So for example,
00:15:41
Speaker
Say you're out on workman's comp and you're trying to figure out how you're going to get your pay because you can't work. You're waiting on Department of Labor to release your funds, whatever the case may be. The ability to be your advocate and help you get your funds as quickly as possible to answer all your questions.
00:15:59
Speaker
at ease. If I need to write letters or whatever I need to do to be able to assist our veterans and our employees so that they are able to still live and function despite any hardship, that is rewarding for me. Anytime I can go into a facility and sit down and talk to our veterans and see how they've grown despite all the things that they've gone through and the things that they've overcome,
00:16:24
Speaker
And to be a part of that, that is exciting. So anytime I'm able to advocate for our veterans, that makes me happy. And those are the things that I'm the most proud of, is making sure our veterans get what they need and actually being able to point out, I did this to make sure that that veteran or
00:16:46
Speaker
that that family was able to get what they need. They're able to survive and live and they're healthy. So being able to make those changes, that's exciting for me. Yeah, excellent, excellent. And I guess as a follow-up to that, has there been a time when you're doing work and you just fell out laughing?
00:17:12
Speaker
Usually I laugh, again, with our veterans. So our veterans are very lively. They tell lots of stories. And some of the stories that they give are pretty wild. And so it's always entertaining to learn about their experiences overseas or at different bases. I always am able to relate to our vets because I'm like,
00:17:35
Speaker
I tell them I'm military grade issued because I was born on a military installation. And there was a quote growing when I was younger growing up that if the military wanted you to have a wife, they'd issue you a wife. If they wanted you to have children, they'd issue you children. And so when I tell a veteran that I'm military grade issued because I was issued to my family, my parents on a base, they start cracking up. And that's one of the biggest laughs that I'm able to get.
00:18:01
Speaker
Because they know that I understand the culture. They know that I grew up in the same environment where they worked and lived. And they know I understand the camaraderie and the relationship that veterans have with each other. So it makes it easier for us to connect and they feel more comfortable to come to me so that I can help them and assist them. So yeah, that's probably a lot of fun. Just laughing and joking.
00:18:27
Speaker
Very cool.
Union Negotiations & Respectful Problem Solving
00:18:30
Speaker
One of the things we were talking about as we were planning this conversation was the work you did with labor negotiations. Before I talked with you, my understanding of it came from TV shows or movies, a show like House of Cards where
00:18:49
Speaker
It's always aggressive. There's name calling. People can be duplicitous. I guess, and to learn from somebody who's actually been in those closed door rooms to have negotiation with union leaders, what has been your experience being a union negotiator? Could you share what you like about it? What's been some experiences that our guests could hear from?
00:19:18
Speaker
So it, labor negotiations can be contentious.
00:19:24
Speaker
But it doesn't have to be. And I think what I try to do as a representative of the agency, I try to set the tone at the beginning of any conversation. One, I let our labor partners know, hey, this is what we're here for. This is what we're looking to negotiate. And oh, by the way, we have a common mission. And again, that mission is to care for our veterans.
00:19:49
Speaker
And so when I set the tone and we have an understanding that we're here to solve a problem, it really changes how our negotiation actually goes and we're able to get somewhere. Now sometimes, you know, they're upset about something. They need to vent just like anybody else. And so I feel like I give them the space that they need to address any issues or concerns that they have. I'll listen to it. I'll let them know, hey,
00:20:15
Speaker
Thank you for that. I'll get back to you. But right now, in this moment, we still need to negotiate this issue. And then we're able to work through some things. In those instances where it's name calling and all that, I am quick to stop a meeting and say, hey, it seems like this meeting is not being productive. We're not solving problems. Maybe we need to come back to this. And we'll end the meeting, and then we'll come back when heads are cooler.
00:20:42
Speaker
I'm all about respect on all parts. And if a person cannot be respectful, then we cannot have a conversation. And I think because of how I operate our negotiations, the way I manage it,
00:20:58
Speaker
And the way I train my staff to manage our negotiations, we have really great relationships with our union partners. And so that helps us be able to move forward and solve a lot of problems. Now, it's not perfect all the time. You know, sometimes issues arise that are outside of our control. We had executive orders that came down from previous administrations that we had to move forward with. And it caused a lot of issues.
00:21:26
Speaker
In the end, because of how we were able to be respectful and how we move forward, I think everybody understood the position that we all were put in during that time. A lot of those executive orders have been overturned by the new administration, so now it's back to status quo. But some facilities had issues more than others, but they already had that bad relationship. Again, if you set a good tone and build a good relationship with people,
00:21:56
Speaker
you tend not to have those problems. You just, you're focused on the mission and solving the problem. So yeah, I try to make sure things are as positive and respectful as possible and it makes all the difference. Gotcha. I guess, has there been a time where somebody was disrespectful or maybe even threatened you? What's been like the wildest moments when you were sitting at the table with a human?
00:22:24
Speaker
So the wildest moment was I had finished a negotiation meeting and I had a union president tell me about a court case they were involved in that
00:22:40
Speaker
that dealt with murder. I'll just leave it at that. And I guess this information was shared with me as a ploy to intimidate me. Little did he know I'm an attorney. I'm licensed to practice. And so his vice president, who had left the room temporarily, but then realized he didn't have his president with him, came back to get him. And he, I guess, overheard him telling the story. And he said,
00:23:11
Speaker
she's an attorney. And so then the president was like, oh, I guess I won't be intimidating this one. And then he left. And then after that, you know, we really didn't have any issues. In fact, when I left that particular facility,
00:23:26
Speaker
He was like, you can't leave. I enjoy arguing with you. You make it fun. So I mean, even in his best efforts to intimidate me, it didn't really work. But it was a nice try. I gave him my A for effort. Right, right, right. The stones for him to try that, right. The stones on him, that's crazy. I'm glad you kept it cool and didn't. Yeah, I'm glad you kept it cool during that situation. Yep.
00:23:55
Speaker
So I want to get abstract with this next question.
Metaphoric Role of HR
00:24:00
Speaker
So imagine you are in front of a painter and they're asking you, you know, describe what you do and they're going to put it into a picture. How would you describe your, you know, your role, what you contribute to a painter or an artist so they could commemorate the work that you do?
00:24:23
Speaker
So I think the best way to draw this masterpiece or create this masterpiece would be to go from almost darkness to light. So maybe you know deep in outer space in the depths of darkness
00:24:43
Speaker
but getting closer to the sun where you can see more and there's clarity and there's warmth and understanding. So, you know, like I mentioned, employing labor relations encompasses a lot of different areas.
00:24:57
Speaker
It can be very complex. It changes. It's based on interpretation. There's a lot of room for error. And so because of that, it causes a lot of confusion for people at all levels within the organization. And it's not because of lack of experience, it's just, it's very nuanced. And so my role is to bring people out of that darkness and closer to the sun, where they have that understanding. They're able to not
00:25:27
Speaker
feel a certain way because you know when you're going through these processes it's natural to feel upset to to feel hurt to feel disappointed to feel scared because you don't know what's going on you feel like somebody's attacking you and your character completely and so there's a plethora of feelings but the goal in my role is to help
00:25:50
Speaker
manage those feelings, help give some context to those feelings, also to give a different perspective, but also just to provide people with a roadmap so that they can see what's going on. They have some clarity and give them a little bit more confidence in the process and what's going on so that they are not left hanging out. And so I think that's how I would kind of create my masterpiece.
00:26:18
Speaker
Gotcha. Well said. So I want to now switch the conversation. As with anything, there's always the good, and then there's also the bad and ugly.
Advice for HR Careers
00:26:31
Speaker
So if you were telling somebody to go into this career, what are some of the watch outs that you would give them? Even if there's a time early on in your career that maybe caused you a little bit of headache, but you persevered through it,
00:26:46
Speaker
What warnings would you give about maybe going into HR or working into the government or anything through your career?
00:26:56
Speaker
So first and foremost, reading is fundamental. So it's key to read policies. It's key to read case law. It's key to read your employment contract, anything you have that somebody gives you in writing, you need to read. Because if you don't and somebody knows documents better than you do, you're missing out and it's going to cause a problem down the line. So always read
00:27:26
Speaker
anything that's put before you. Even if you have to break it down, just read a page a day. Just read, read, read. It's very, very important. You want to follow directions. Oftentimes in the government, there's a lot of policies and procedures, trainings, etc., etc.
00:27:42
Speaker
You might have to go find them yourself, but they're usually out there somewhere. You may have to network with somebody to get the information, but it's available. You want to make sure you're doing as many trainings and you're learning as much as you can about your role and position.
00:27:59
Speaker
The other thing is you want to make sure you get everything in writing, signed and dated if possible, because if it's not written, then you have no evidence that it really exists. And so making sure you write things down, making sure you sign things properly, date them, that's very, very important, especially if it may end up being used as evidence for anything later on in life.
00:28:27
Speaker
You want to double check everything and I think this should be in general in your life but you want to check your records to make sure that they're accurate, complete, and correct. Oftentimes you know people make mistakes you know so you know when you're working at your job and you get hired there might be a mistake in your offer letter. There might be a mistake in we have what's called the EOPF which is our employee file. Employees have an opportunity to go and check that file. You always want to make sure you're checking that to make sure
00:28:55
Speaker
your forms are in there. Not only are they in there, but they're correct, so on and so forth. Because it makes a difference. If you don't care about your career, don't expect for anybody to care about it the way that you do. You need to make that a priority.
00:29:10
Speaker
But other than that, I think with employee and labor relations specifically, I think that you really have to learn your job because you're held to a higher standard than other federal employees because you're the person who's facilitating the process of dealing with disciplinary actions, behavior issues,
00:29:30
Speaker
performance issues so on and so forth so you're actually held to a higher standard so you need to be a great example for everybody else and that's what the expectation is for you to be that example so it's imperative that you learn your job and what you need to do and learn it well so that
00:29:49
Speaker
you don't put yourself in a position to be held accountable because it's going to be done at a higher level because you're kind of like the gatekeeper of this process and that's important kind of like police officers like we have VA police and just like any other police officer even in the community
00:30:08
Speaker
When they do things, they're held to a higher standard because their responsibility is to protect and serve. When they don't do that, it's an issue because we look to them specifically for that. That's how you keep their position respectable, is making sure you have good people in there that are being that example of what needs to be done. I think those are the biggest things that I would say.
00:30:38
Speaker
That's within a job. I think you have to really be responsible and be mindful of everything that's going on and just watch, listen, read, pay attention, get things in writing.
00:30:52
Speaker
Well, and I love that you ended it on get things in writing. I wanted to second that, especially thinking about my own career when I was young and I was taking things for granted, taking that people were gonna follow up and do what they say they were gonna do. And I wasn't putting things in writing and it came back to bite me a few times. So thank you for calling that out. And I just wanna second that to the listeners. So I appreciate it. Next question, and it's about,
Technology's Impact on HR
00:31:21
Speaker
You know, technology is changing jobs every year, especially as new innovations come and we're coming out of a pandemic as well. So as you think about your job, how will technology and different perceptions of work after the pandemic change things for what you do?
00:31:42
Speaker
So we are definitely moving to more remote and virtual positions for HR, which is actually really good for federal government across the board. Ideally, if we can get a lot of administrative roles to be more virtual, it would save the government a lot of money because now you don't have to have offices and desks and all these materials and so on and so forth. You're paying just for the technology.
00:32:11
Speaker
and the people can work from home. So that has actually been very beneficial. Now, there are still some admin staff that need to be on site. For example, in HR, we have to deal with fingerprints. So you need somebody at the office to be able to take new employees fingerprints. So somebody's got to be there. But to reduce the footprint has been really beneficial. A lot of VA's specifically have
00:32:37
Speaker
have outgrown the facilities that they're in and so being able to recapture and regain a lot of that space by sending folks home has been very helpful and very beneficial. Now with that being said you know some of our roles require us to have folders or documents and so now we have to rethink how we manage our our documents for dealing with disciplinary action so on and so forth to maintain our our records and so
00:33:06
Speaker
I think the VA has done a great job at finding creative solutions. Now, mind you, they were already working on these solutions prior to the pandemic, but the pandemic definitely sped up the process significantly. But we have new systems and new programs that we use to manage our records for disciplinary actions.
00:33:29
Speaker
everything now is being done online. So we're sending emails. We have teams like everybody else. And there's other software and solutions that we've been using to make sure that we're able to stay connected and continue with the agency the way it needs to be managed. So I will say that we're just being creative and coming up with
00:33:54
Speaker
some solutions and it's been working so far. So I venture to say that's going to continue and I'm excited to see how it will go because the VA is definitely unique in
00:34:08
Speaker
not only our mission, but how we run our organization. It's definitely not like private hospitals. So some of the things that we come up with are really, really creative. And also what a lot of people don't realize is that oftentimes the VA is at the cutting edge of technology because we have resources that
00:34:28
Speaker
private facilities may or may not have access to. We have access to research and development that other facilities may or may not have access to. And we oftentimes have partnerships with the top schools throughout the nation.
00:34:43
Speaker
HBCUs included. So we have a lot of access to the best of the best and top tier information.
Value of Working at VA
00:34:54
Speaker
And oftentimes, other healthcare organizations reach out to the VA to utilize our information, our data to help them improve their facilities. So I'm excited to see where we're going. Thank you for sharing.
00:35:12
Speaker
And when we were having a first conversation about this, you know, I guess first let me say I really appreciated the passion and the insight you've given into human resources and working for the VA. One of the things you shared with me is that you think this is a great career path, great employer,
00:35:30
Speaker
that a lot of people don't know yet. So for anybody who may be considering joining your team or joining the VA and using their gifts and skills, for you, why has it helped your career? Or I guess for somebody else is really the right question. So for somebody else, why do you think this would be a great path for them to come and join?
00:35:54
Speaker
So I feel the federal government in general is not the same federal government that our parents were brought up in. I know when I first started, a lot of my older family members who were federal employees were like, hey, make sure you don't lose that good government job. That was kind of like the mindset. And there was the mindset that people in the government never got fired. There's no accountability. People are lazy. And that's just honestly not the truth.
00:36:23
Speaker
Honestly, most employees are excited to come to work. They want to do right. They understand the importance of their role and how it affects people throughout the country. So for example, when I was with ICE, I did accounting for our property, plant, and equipment. So I'm making sure that all of our accounts reflect the properties, the leasehold improvements,
00:36:49
Speaker
that this particular agency had and all of the subcomponents that we worked with to make sure that their books were accurate and I literally could say okay we have this island over here that we paid a dollar for and we're doing this leasehold
00:37:07
Speaker
hold improvement on so that we can do research and development to protect our country in this manner. We have this building over here that we've retrofitted for our agents so that they can practice and learn and become better agents.
00:37:23
Speaker
again, to protect our borders, so on and so forth. So I could actually see where my taxpayer dollars were going. That's one of the things that really excited me about working for the federal government. If I'm paying taxes, at least I know where it's going. And I have an opportunity to make sure it's being managed correctly. Okay, so that was one of the things that was exciting for me.
00:37:44
Speaker
The other thing that was exciting for me, well, and I didn't realize this at first, but, you know, when I first, when I was at FAM, I wanted to go work for the top accounting firms, just like everybody else. And as you know, it's very competitive. Um, and I ended up not getting an opportunity. Now, mind you, I had interned with them or I'd gone through all these programs. They had phoned me out and all this kind of great stuff, but I never actually got an opportunity to get a full-time job for them with them. Well,
00:38:12
Speaker
they ended up working for me because
00:38:15
Speaker
as they were contractors, I'm a Fed. So basically, at the end of the day, with the hierarchy, at some level, I can make decisions over what they did and vice versa. Plus, I get all the federal holidays off. They still got to go into the office on federal holidays. So that worked in my favor, too. If you're interested in working somewhere and they are a company or organization that contracts with the federal government, consider working on the federal government side
00:38:43
Speaker
and networking your way into those positions because oftentimes that happens. The companies often can poach federal employees if that's where they want to work. So if you want to work at Deloitte and you didn't get an opportunity to get a job through your school program, go work for an accounting sector in D.C. with the federal government because everybody works for the federal government pretty much in D.C.
00:39:07
Speaker
nine times out of ten Deloitte is there KPMG is there and you can network with those folks who are at the facility or at the agency as contractors and possibly segue yourself into another role. However, what's more likely than not to happen is those employees are trying to get into the federal government. So nine times out of ten you'll see
00:39:36
Speaker
a lot of contractors that will come over and become Feds more so than the other way around. But it's a great opportunity. I love that I've been able to have so many different roles and jobs and positions within my organization without having to go and get another job.
00:39:55
Speaker
Like I said, I've been working with the VA for years now, and I've been a management analyst. I've been HR conversation. I've been an HR specialist dealing with employee and labor relations.
00:40:10
Speaker
you know you can do staffing if you like staffing there's human resources information systems so there's so much that you can do in HR but just in general with the VA if you like IT we have a huge IT office either at the facilities or nationwide because there's different levels.
00:40:29
Speaker
We have an Office of General Counsel if you are an attorney and you want to work for the VA. What's unique about the VA is with our benefits section, we actually have what they call ALJs, Administrative Law Judges, that are employed by the VA but don't work directly for the VA.
00:40:49
Speaker
but they review benefit cases from veterans. So you have an opportunity to move up and possibly be a judge, a federal judge. So I mean, there's so many opportunities available within the agency, but also just within the federal government. And being on the federal side gives you a lot of exposure to whatever area industry that you're interested in.
00:41:14
Speaker
And that would prepare you for any private sector opportunity as well. So it's just a great opportunity. I enjoy it. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thank you for sharing that. And so for my last question, I actually have a curve ball for you. I know your love for education and clearly you love to read given
00:41:40
Speaker
you know, earning your JD and the work that you do now. I love to ask a question where the listeners can learn a little bit about who you are as a person.
Kendra's Favorite Books
00:41:49
Speaker
So if you would, what are your three favorite books that can be fiction, nonfiction, work related, you know, just your three favorite books? What are they? Yeah, what are your three favorite books that you have enjoyed reading throughout your life? Ooh.
00:42:10
Speaker
That is a really good question. So my favorite author, just in general, is Toni Morrison. So Song of Solomon is one of my most favorite books that I've ever read by Toni Morrison. So that's definitely number one. What's another book that I really enjoyed?
00:42:34
Speaker
Right now I'm reading a book on healthcare and leadership, and I forgot the specific name of it, but I ended up purchasing that book through ACHE, which is the American, excuse me, the Association of, excuse me, I'm saying that wrong. Let me get it right.
00:42:59
Speaker
It is the American College of Healthcare Executives. I apologize. And so they have a conference every year in March. And so I had the opportunity of going this year and I bought a number of books, great books to help develop me. But the book is like five minute snippets that you can use every day to develop your leadership skills, whether it's dealing with communication,
00:43:27
Speaker
or your leadership style, or learning about yourself so that you can better connect with your staff and the people you work with. So that's the book that I'm reading now. And I think my third favorite book will be my third one.
00:43:50
Speaker
I, it's probably a kid's book. And so don't judge me, I love little people, they're the greatest. I have a little nephew. And so one of the books that I'm looking forward to sharing with him is Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. Actually, anything Shel Silverstein, I'm looking forward to sharing with him, but especially The Giving Tree, because I feel like it's a great book.
00:44:14
Speaker
to to learn from and live your life on especially when you're dealing with people and I'm a people person and so I feel like the things that Shel Silverstein teaches in that book are still applicable today and applicable to what I do you know you can't give all of what you have to somebody else because you'll have nothing left but at the same time
00:44:36
Speaker
appreciate what people give you. Don't take it for granted and respect it and value it. And at the end of the day, you know, we, we give each other, we support each other and we give each other what, what we need to grow. And as long as you always remember to appreciate the people in your life.
00:44:56
Speaker
the people that pour into you and build you up, you know, that person, even if they've given you their last, they'll live on through you and you become their legacy. So I really love that book. And I think it's a great way to live your life and to continue to grow. Wow. Gotcha. Love it.
00:45:18
Speaker
Well, we've come to the end.
Closing and Gratitude
00:45:20
Speaker
Let me just say, you know, I said in my intro, I had a certain perspective of what HR is. And then after we talked for a little bit, it totally was dismantled and changed. So I really appreciate you changing my mind, coming on the show.
00:45:35
Speaker
sharing your firsthand experience and then telling people how this could be a great career path. I really even love when you said you enjoy working for the government because now you can actually control, in one small way, you can control how your tax dollars are being spent. I love that you look at it from that perspective and actually take control and value what you do.
00:45:59
Speaker
Thank you so much for coming on the show. I appreciate it. One last question. If somebody wanted to learn more from you, they could find you on LinkedIn, first name Kendra, last name Lee, correct? That is correct. Definitely feel free to reach out. One of the things I definitely wanted to share before we get off is that there are a lot of opportunities
00:46:23
Speaker
in HR, especially at the VA right now. And so please make sure you're looking at USAJobs, that you're registered on there, you have your resume on there, your transcripts if applicable, because there are so many opportunities
00:46:38
Speaker
for you to get into different programs so that you can develop your skills and grow throughout the organization. And so now is a great time to really just consider all of your options. If you're searching for a job, if you know you want to be virtual, government HR might be a good route for you. And there's a lot of training opportunities available right now. So definitely, definitely if you have any questions or want to learn more about that, feel free to reach out.
00:47:08
Speaker
There's a lot of information on USAJobs website now to help people better understand how to log in, register, how to build their resume, so on and so forth. And so if you have any questions about that, feel free to reach out as well. Awesome. And I'm going to include, in the show notes, I'm going to include a link to your LinkedIn and to usajobs.gov. So that'll help people go directly to the source.
00:47:36
Speaker
Thank you. Of course, of course. And finally, thank you again for taking time out. I appreciate it. I know the audience will appreciate it. And I hope you have a great rest of the day and continue achieving your professional goals. You too. And thank you so much for this opportunity. I really appreciate the opportunity to share with people what I do about my agency, how it's changed.
00:48:02
Speaker
I know we get a bad rap, but it's definitely not the VA of old. And we're definitely making sure to improve it for our veterans. So thank you for this opportunity. And I'm excited to be here and I'm excited to share. So. Hey, you're welcome. Thank you. And until next time, we'll talk again. Alrighty. Bye. Bye.