Monday, November 15, 1999
Crying fowl
Noted writer named Franklin Professor
UGA entomologist, geneticist Lois Miller dies after long illness
When the teacher becomes the student. . .
Kudos
Campus Pulse
Ballet: Not easy by any stretch

Campus Closeup
Sige Burden Jr.
Employee Relations Coordinator
Human Resources

TIME IN CURRENT POSITION: Five months.

OTHER UGA EXPERIENCE: Employment interviewer, 1997-1999.

JOB DESCRIPTION: “I am a point of contact for information on employment policy procedures as well as proper interpretation and application--for example, how one would utilize the Family Medical Leave Act, or the methods a supervisor uses to discipline an employee.
“I also am the initial point of contact for informal counseling on workplace issues, where we try to resolve problems at the lowest level. Sometimes people just come in here to vent for an hour, and they’re appreciative that someone takes the time to listen. I spend a lot of time answering inquiries on the phone or through e-mail, or otherwise I’m in meetings. I have to be flexible, because the staff and employees are my clients, and they can’t always meet with me between ‘normal’ business hours.
“I also try to stay as visible as possible. . . . I think human resources had the old reputation of staying in the shadows. Now, we’re trying to be more proactive, rather than reactive; we need to be accessible and involved in the campus community so that we’re in a position to stay abreast of what the concerns are in today’s workplace. It does no good to stay in here and wait for an explosion.”

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB: “Making sure I can stay objective while at the same time empathizing with a person. I have to give clear and complete information to someone to make a decision that may or may not make an impact on the person’s family or career. It’s not my job to simply agree; that would be doing a disservice to them. That’s one of the tougher elements of my job.”

MOST REWARDING PART OF MY JOB: “I’ve had a couple of people come in and say ‘thank you for just listening,’ whether or not the situation worked out. They just appreciated someone taking the time and letting them know they weren’t being ignored.”

THE PERSON I MOST ADMIRE: “It sounds like a cliché, but my dad has always been available to me my whole life--the value of which cannot be overstated. He taught me some lessons, particularly one from back in grade school: Take responsibility for your decisions.
“When I was a teenager, I thought my dad didn’t know anything, that he was an idiot . . . but later on through the years, I realized he was a genius, and I’ve learned to appreciate that. He was definitely the key person as far as looking up to someone.”

OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “One of my passions is theatrical lighting design. I do some freelance work out of the Morton Theatre and other places--nothing overly elaborate, but I know enough to be dangerous. It’s something I don’t mind putting in the extra hours for.
“I also throw darts, and I try to get out on the basketball courts in the evening. I can hold my own. I’m not looking to dunk, but I’ve learned to play smart, not fast. I get a good sweat out of it.”

A BOOK I’D RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff...And It’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. The book keeps things in perspective.”

FAVORITE MUSIC: “I can listen to almost anything, but it’s got to have some sort of lyrics to it.”

AN ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “Civility in the workplace. I just sense--not only here, but across the nation--that certain areas are powder kegs waiting to explode.
“We’re going to have to find a way to address the symptoms of these wellness issues, as opposed to reacting to the destruction when it’s too late. We are a major employer, and people are people. We can’t just sit back and assume life is calm. We must make sure supervisors know how to supervise. Somebody may be a great technician or a brilliant physicist, but that doesn’t mean they know how to handle people. And that’s not their fault, per se. We just need to look at some of these issues very seriously.”
--Ryan Crowe
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