Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fort Lauderdale HR director seeks classification-and-compensation study as recruiting gaps persist
Summary
Jerome, acting HR director, told the Budget Advisory Board the city hired nearly 600 people in FY2024 and processed 56,838 job applicants but still faces recruitment and retention challenges, especially for technical trades and public-works roles; he said a reduced-cost class and comp study will be requested in the coming budget cycle.
Jerome (last name not specified in the transcript), Acting Director of Human Resources for the City of Fort Lauderdale, told the Budget Advisory Board on Dec. 19 that the department has rebuilt its HR team after prior losses and is now focused on recruitment, retention and a long-delayed classification and compensation study.
Jerome said the city filled 599 positions in fiscal 2024 and processed 56,838 applicants through its NEOGOV applicant-tracking system. He described work to optimize applicant tracking, increase use of self-scheduling for interviews and medical exams, and strengthen onboarding. He said HR had refilled technical HR positions and is working to cut onboarding timelines.
The director called classification and compensation the item that keeps him awake most nights. He said the city’s last comprehensive class-and-comp process was completed in 2017 and implemented in 2018 and that many technical or hard-to-fill positions — wastewater/water operators, electricians, building inspectors — are not competitive with private-sector pay. Jerome said he will request a reduced-cost class-and-comp study this budget cycle and that bargaining with the Federation and Teamsters units will begin soon.
He also described cybersecurity training and “frequent flyer” employees who repeatedly fail phishing tests; HR is working with IT on accountability steps. Jerome said HR staffing was reduced by one position last year and that benefits and FMLA administration workloads may require a conversion of a part-time or temporary position to full time.
Board members asked about flexible work arrangements and whether the city offers comparable remote/hybrid options; Jerome said the city historically kept a traditional on-site posture but is making some accommodations on a short-term basis while noting the need to rebuild teamwork and office culture.
