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Jasmine Kuzak has worked in HR for eight years. She wants to be a Jill-of-all-trades, tackling all sorts of aspects of the employee experience. For over two years, Kuzak has been the director of HR at Birchwood Credit Services, a financial services company in Florida, where—as the company’s first HR employee—she has helped shape its people policies and programs.
How would you describe your specific job to someone who doesn’t work in HR?
It can be difficult to describe what you do in HR, because you essentially have to be a shape-shifter. One second, you’re a therapist, the next, you’re a salesperson, and by the end of the day, you could be an event planner. HR has the ability to shape the whole employee experience, and it’s a very powerful thing. We are responsible for finding the perfect balance between what employees need and what an employer can do.
Are there ways you’re trying to change HR’s reputation?
Even if I do need [an employee] for something, I’ll make sure to at least have a little bit of small talk with them to try to get to know them a little bit…I try to remember something that we talked about before to follow up on like, “Oh, how’s your dog doing?”
I think just having those more meaningful interactions with people helps a lot, because even when I do have to deliver bad news…people will actually thank me…for being so kind with them and caring about their growth here.
What’s the best change you’ve made at a place you’ve worked?
I would say the best change I’ve made at a place I’ve worked at is creating more value for HR as a strategic partner to the business. Keep reading here.
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