Cincy Chic: Your company, Just the Basics, specializes in human resource management, so how did you first decide to get into HR?

Dr. Linda Gravett, president and CEO of Just the Basics: I was working in a small, growing company in an accounting position. The company needed an HR Manager and I was bored with accounting, so I talked the president into hiring me into HR even though I had no formal training in the field at that time. I really enjoyed the work and decided to stay in HR, and I returned to college for a graduate degree in labor and employment relations.

Cincy Chic: This is for our Working Moms issue, so from an HR perspective, what are some common practices and policies working mothers should know?

Gravett: You should not be shy about asking for work-life balance arrangements such as flexible scheduling, telecommuting, or job-sharing (where two people share a full time position and each works part-time). Many jobs today can be accomplished in a home office or outside the typical nine-to-five work day.

Cincy Chic: What advice do you have for women looking to find out more about their own companies' policies? What questions should they ask?

Gravett: The role of the human resources department is to provide employees with information about the company's benefits and policies, so do visit HR reps whenever you have a question or suggestion about your job or company policies. Key questions to ask include:

• May I have a copy of the company's policy manual?
• How does my job support the mission, vision and values of the company?
• When will I receive written evaluations and from whom?
• What do I need to do to have a mentor from inside or outside the company?
• What are options for ensuring work-life balance for working moms in this company?

Cincy Chic: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks a year of unpaid, job-protected time off for specified family and medical reasons. So why should Cincy Chic readers know about this federal act? And what should they know about it?

Gravett: Readers should know about this act because it’s a job protection benefit for them as individuals in the event they, or a close family member, become ill. The basic tenets of this law are:

• Mandates that employers offer unpaid, job-protected leave for up to 12 weeks a year.
• Purpose of the leave is to care for a new child; adoption or placement of a child in foster care; care for a seriously ill family member (spouse, child or parent); recover from one’s own illness; care for an injured service member in the family.
• Employees are guaranteed restoration to the same position they left when they return to work. If the same position is not available, employer must provide the employee with a position substantially equal in pay, benefits and responsibility.
• This law applies only to companies that have 50 or more employees, although this minimum threshold does not apply to public agencies.

Cincy Chic: Human resources aside, what do you like to do for fun?

Gravett: Check out restaurants all around the city and go antiquing with friends.

Cincy Chic: What do you love most about Cincinnati?

Gravett: The diversity of neighborhoods: all unique and special. There's something new to explore every weekend!

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Neysa Ruhl
Model: Dr. Linda Gravett
Location: Lofts@4120

More articles by this author

Hairapist in Training

Hairapist in Training As your hair is cut, sculpted and shaped,...

Read More >>

Picking Herself up, Aiming High

Picking Herself up, Aiming High After 20 years in business, this...

Read More >>