Human Resources
Human Resources Department
Mindy McDowell - Director, Human Resources and Risk Management
We are HR professionals, sharing the mission of focusing our efforts to serve the City and all employees. We are dedicated to the HR profession and are members of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the largest professional association for HR professionals in the world, and the International Personnel Managers Association (IPMA).
Responsibilities
The Human Resources Department is responsible for the following primary functions.
- Job Announcements
- Receipt of Employment Applications
- Arrangement of Civil Service Testing, Hearings, and Other Issues
- New Hire Orientations
- Drug Screening
- Benefits Management – Including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, Accident, Cancer, and Sickness
- Retirement Management – Membership in Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS)
- Policy Creation, Revision, and Interpretation
- Insurance Management – Including Property, Wind, Fleet, Liability, Worker’s Compensation, and Unemployment
- Health Issues – Hepatitis vaccinations, Tetanus vaccinations, DOT Licenses & Physicals, and Annual Physicals
- Liability Issues – Liability insurance claims, Worker’s Compensation claims, and court cases as they pertain to claims.
- Open Enrollment and Annual Benefits Updates – Benefits compliance and administration is a constantly changing arena for human resources professionals; this department is responsible for providing the best possible benefits for City employees. Over the past several years, we have seen legislative changes that require additional compliance requirements or offer the opportunity for new and innovative programs that successfully support our organization.
Risk Management Department
The Risk Management Department handles all facets of Worker’s Compensation, administration of safety programs, liability claims, court cases, insurance, physical exams for employment, and various other factors affecting risk management. Specific responsibilities of this Department and the Director of HR/Risk Management include: review and investigation of worker’s compensation injuries, maintaining accident loss time injuries, and medical separation. Personnel also conduct safety inspections and safety training for all city employees. The staff ensures that drug testing is properly administered, and that all tetanus and hepatitis inoculations are administered in a timely manner.
If you have sustained property damage or been injured on the job or by city property or a city employee, you should immediately call the Director to verify the claim and to photo document the injury/damage for your protection and accuracy in possible claims. Call the Risk Management office during normal business hours at 228.872.3338. After hours, call the Emergency Dispatcher at the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228.875.2211.
