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From left: Assistant vice chancellor for human resources, John Russell, and UNMC employee relations specialist, Sandy Leslie, with the June 2007 Gold ‘U’ award. |
And telling people some things are extra difficult, she said.
“Telling people that they are wrong, that’s tough,” Leslie said.
But in these and other trying circumstances, Leslie maintains a sense of humor, said Carmen Sirizzotti, division director of employee relations.
For her attitude, commitment to her job and service to UNMC, Leslie received the Chancellor’s Gold ‘U’ Award for the month of June.
“Sandy spends many hours working on leave issues for employees. To others, and perhaps to Sandy herself, it may appear that she is just doing her job, but she continually goes above and beyond what is expected or required,” her nominator wrote.
Never was Leslie’s penchant for going beyond the call of duty more apparent than in 2005 when she spent most of the year serving as interim director for employee relations because of the illness and death of the previous director, Jane Harris.
“Her dedication to the job and to the customer service needs of UNMC faculty and staff were evident in the long hours she spent in the office and in taking work home,” said John Russell, assistant vice chancellor of human resources. “She faced and met the challenges presented to her and took on the responsibilities needed at the time.”
Leslie said she was just doing what needed to be done at the time.
“It was a difficult time, our main priority was to continue to serve our customers as seamlessly as possible,” Leslie said. “Of course, I had good support staff and others that I relied on for assistance.”
Working in employee relations is exactly the kind of job that suits Leslie’s outgoing personality and willingness to help others.
As an employment specialist, Leslie’s job is to help resolve employee relations issues.
“I love working with people and helping solve problems,” she said.
Her job is rewarding and at the same time challenging.
But Leslie said, “I strive to be fair and honest with both the manager and the employee.”
Leslie began her career at UNMC 31 years ago as a job interviewer and eventually worked her way through the benefits office to employee relations.
“I’ve grown through the positions but was always in a capacity where I was working with people to help resolve their issues,” Leslie said.
“Sandy helps people to grow and see the best of the situation,” Sirizzotti said. “Sandy is fair to employees and willing to see all sides of an issue.”
In her spare time Leslie likes to garden and does volunteer landscaping in her subdivision. She has two grown sons who are firefighters with the Omaha Fire Department.