Workforce Consulting Services hosted, the Workforce Planning Breakfast Forum, on March 5, 2009 with the support of all divisions at the State Personnel Administration (SPA). The unit also partnered with three other agencies: The Georgia Department of Labor, the Employees Retirement System, and the Department of Community Health. Subject matter experts were available to discuss questions and concerns regarding the following topics: Health care implications during layoffs and furloughs, compensation alternatives while managing organizational changes, leadership development courses and assessment tools available to state agencies, rapid response services provided to employees who have lost their jobs due to budgetary constraints, talent acquisition and talent management strategies, flexible work schedules through the work away program, shared human resource services available to agencies, and financial management/retirement options. This joint initiative attracted senior leaders and their human capital team from more than 45 state agencies totaling more than 100 state leaders in attendance.

This forum was hosted in response to the current economic downturn which has many of Georgia’s state agencies finding it difficult to manage their dwindling workforce. Considering this concern, the forum was an initiative to encourage leaders to systematically align strategic planning, human capital, and budgeting requirements to meet organizational goals and objectives and to utilize the resources offered by their fellow colleagues at SPA during this challenging economic time.

Senior leaders were briefed on the position of workforce planning in Georgia’s state government and had the opportunity to learn more about “Resilient Leadership” particularly, in these times. Deputy Commissioner, Lee Rudd of the State Personnel Administration opened the session, setting the tone for the morning. The guest speakers were DeKisha Montaque, HR Consultant-State Personnel Administration and Tiffani D. Leigh, HR Projects Coordinator-State Personnel Administration. Ms. Montaque gave an overview of workforce planning and Ms. Leigh discussed how to weather the storm through “resilient leadership” during an economic downturn. Also, the forum’s participants had the opportunity to hear from each other as they discussed actual situations from their agencies during a round-table discussion. This was an informative workforce planning session and was complimentary to the agencies’ senior leaders and their human capital management teams.

To learn more about Workforce Planning in Georgia State Government, e-mail the Workforce Consulting Services team at workforceplan@spa.ga.gov.