Eric Clark Farmer

Union, KY ***** 734-***-**** ad4nb9@r.postjobfree.com

Labor Relations/Human Resources Leader

Employee relations director with professional experience in labor relations, manpower planning, staffing and hiring, regulatory compliance, and grievance management. Analytical change agent skilled at negotiating contracts to promote cost reduction and competitive policies. Results-driven leader leveraging client relations to develop teams and engage the workforce.

Areas of Expertise

Contract Negotiation Regulatory Compliance Human Resources Policies Labor Relations Training and Development Cross-Functional Teamwork Cost Savings Talent Acquisition Manpower Planning

Experience

Serta-Simmons, Monroe Ohio Aug 2023 – Present

HR/LR Leader

Responsible for Human Resources and Labor Relations needs at the site. Development of staffing models, plant recognition, turnover reduction strategies, workforce succession and progression planning, contract administration and negotiations.

L’Oréal Kentucky Operations, Florence Kentucky 2022 -2023

AVP, Human Resources

Oversight for the HR department.

Led strategic planning for staffing, compensation, HR policies and meeting production requirements.

Reduced onboarding time by 50%

Administered employee engagement initiatives based on Pulse Feedback and increased scores for the first time in over five (5) years.

Supported budget planning.

Increased staffing percentage levels by 25%.

General Motors Bowling Green Assembly, Bowling Green, KY 2019 - 2022

Personnel Director

Supported labor relations activities and participated in industry meetings regarding staffing, plant recognition, salaried workforce, joint leadership, and United Automobile Workers (UAW) processes.

Utilized expertise to provide insight and guidance to direct reports, generating feedback to improve performance and understanding of policies.

Attended committees to stay up to date on best practices, company goals, and expectations.

Labor Relations Manager, Small Car Division, Lake Orion, Pontiac, MI 2017 - 2019

Oversaw labor relations activities for 700 to 900 salaried and hourly employees across Lake Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping Operations, supervised staffing, compensation, performance reviews, disciplinary protocol, grievances, and administration of local or national agreements.

Decreased excess costs from UAW filed grievances by modifying and implementing processes to reduce grievances through improved communication, increased awareness, and methods for mitigating liabilities.

Supervised hourly employment and manpower planning, developing strategies to fit talent in the most effective positions in addition to ensuring sick leave and absentee processes were in order.

Maintained knowledge of manpower levels and monitored attrition of UAW employees to successfully direct the transition of material handling operations to subsystems group.

General Motors, Lordstown Complex, Lordstown, OH 2011 - 2017

Labor Relations Manager

Managed labor relations, medical placement, and employment needs and processes including grievances, disciplinary actions, and contract negotiations; ensured compliance with activities related to both national and local agreements while performing manpower planning efforts with operations and union representatives.

Championed key initiatives generating competitive and cost-effective contracts, developing a compliance culture, right sizing workforce, and implementing a robust processing structure to reduce grievances by 50%.

Designed and implemented strategic training plans aimed at providing group leaders with the tools to effectively handle issues from the union more readily and expeditiously.

Performed and improved compliance reviews for subcommittees during negotiation processes, including streamlining reviews for team leaders of General Motors Manufacturing Systems.

General Motors Flint Tool and Die Operations, Flint, MI 2007 - 2011

Personnel Manager

Served as head of contract negotiations for United Automobile Workers (UAW) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) groups, managing employment levels throughout facility while presiding over general HR policies.

Orchestrated the negotiation of key contract initiatives, producing competitive operating agreements including the utilization of subcontractors to lower equipment cost.

Revised and authored contractual language and amendments for local bargaining units including the UAW, die engineers, die construction team, and the IAM.

Coordinated with management to create clear guidelines for salaried performance review process.

Developed compensation planning strategies with plant staff to ensure raises, bonuses, and other opportunities were issued in a fair manner in accordance with GM policies.

General Motors Supervisor of Labor Relations, Assembly Operations, Flint, MI 2006 - 2007

Supervised labor staff, managing labor relations policies and procedures for 3K+ hourly employees; handled daily administration of contracts, job placements, and disabilities activities.

Cut cost of grievances by over 20% in one year through coordination with leaders and joint UAW partners to place injured workers in fitting positions.

Reduced the number of open grievances by 50% by developing training for group leaders, as well as developed and implemented general labor relation training and presentations.

Organized the completion of headcount reduction within therapy relief staff by 50% to slash costs.

General Motors Global Human Resources, Warren, MI 2005 - 2006

Senior HR Representative

Oversaw staffing placement and hiring needs, planning position fills through pipeline while providing insight at local, national, and global human resource management meetings in regard to manpower, headcount, and talent acquisition.

Developed global progression and succession plans for employees within supplier quality, implementing strategies that engaged talent around the globe to strengthen supplier quality.

Spearheaded departmental restructuring plans, utilizing the strengths of individual employees to fill positions with qualified and motivated workers.

Presided over training and informative procedures to improve employee performance and equip management with the proper tools for handling HR policies and procedures.

General Motors Powertrain, Romulus, MI 2001 - 2005

Senior Labor Relations Representative

Supervised labor relations for business team, facilitating training courses for new supervisors to provide a basic knowledge of labor relations principles and practices.

Ensured administration of local and national agreement while organizing information on grievances on a case-by-case basis.

Reduced annual cost of grievances by 30% by preparing supervisors to address and settle grievances at the lowest level; facilitated policy and grievance meetings with local shop committee.

Served as member of the 2003 local negotiations team as a representative of General Motors.

Education

Master of Science (MS), Administration

Central Michigan University

Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA), Journalism

Central Michigan University

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