HR presents employee engagement results and demographic data; commissioners press for clearer metrics

Ron Weigelt, the Department of Public Health's HR director, presented employee engagement survey results and workforce demographic data to the Health Commission on Oct. 1.

Weigelt said the department's latest survey had a 65% response rate, up from 40% in 2015, and that the department is prioritizing improved communication and equity. He noted demographic trends in a 7,648‑employee workforce and said the department is working to recruit and retain more African American and Hispanic employees and to improve pay equity and promotion pathways.

Weigelt described disparities in disciplinary actions and probationary releases and said the department has begun additional review procedures for separations; commissioners criticized some of the charts as confusing and asked for raw numbers in future reports. He also outlined steps including division dashboards, one‑on‑one consultations, training on effective communication and targeted mentoring programs.

During questioning, commissioners asked about tracking of transgender and non‑binary staff (SOGI data), the logic behind presenting Filipinos separately from other Asian categories and ways to speed hiring for new programs. Weigelt recommended continuous recruitment postings and using limited‑term civil service exemptions to accelerate hiring for project staff while working with DHR and unions.

Next steps: HR said it will provide clearer numeric breakdowns in future materials, pursue expanded SOGI tracking and discuss expedited hiring categories with the city's personnel office.