Principal and Founder Ken Hurley announced the opening of his new business, providing the highest level of Human Resources, Labor, and Employee Relations services to companies looking for an experienced outside-in perspective on their HR, Labor, and Employee Relations strategies and tactics.
Spawned by demographics, globalization, political polarization, the Covid pandemic, and its aftermath, we are seeing a level of labor activity and workforce unrest in the U.S. that has not been seen for generations. Some HR, Labor, and Employee Relations functions may lack the experience and agility to continuously re-formulate their strategies and tactics in light of these rapidly changing business dynamics. More than ever, business leaders and stakeholders at every level are owed an honest, candid perspective on what needs to be done to enable success.
Through listening sessions with all levels of management and the workforce, Hurley brings a holistic, creative perspective focused on enabling business growth, margin expansion, and positive employee relations while optimizing available resources.
With over 37 years of experience, Ken Hurley is proud to have led and transformed HR and Labor/Employee Relations functions in multiple Fortune 500 companies across widely varied industries, including construction, healthcare, transportation, warehousing/distribution, manufacturing, CPG, and non-profits. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, forward-looking, can-do approach based on an honest assessment of what needs to be done and how to get there — all stakeholder-driven –, then give me a call or reach out over email.
When should you reach out to Hurley Consulting:
- Is your business lacking a relevant labor and employee relations strategy? Work with all stakeholders in your business to develop a labor and employee relations strategy that supports and enables business objectives, which might include analyzing the function itself and how success is measured; identifying the gaps between where the function is and where it needs to be (including the skill set of the people in the function); and, working with stakeholders to map out a strategy and execution plan.
- Are complex contract negotiations on the horizon? Engage with stakeholders and team members to develop a plan of action, including proactive workforce engagement; proactive communications/media and government relations plan; financial plan/objectives; operational plan/objectives; legal strategy; internal clarity on what success looks like (from the Board room to the front line operations management teams); and ensuring the team is trained and ready.
- Already have a labor relations strategy but need help executing it? Work with the internal team to first chair negotiations supporting that strategy.
- Concerned that your nonunion workforce might be subject to outside influences in an era of highly visible labor activity and unrest? Work with your internal teams and stakeholders to ensure you have an active, effective positive employee relations strategy that ensures your employees’ concerns are heard and addressed.
- Have strong talent coming up the ranks but lacking real-world labor/employee relations, bargaining, or HR leadership experience? Having developed numerous HR/Labor professionals to their fullest potential who are now leading HR, Labor, and Employee Relations functions for Fortune 500 companies and will apply that experience in developing your employees to their maximum potential – so they are ready for anything.
Some more on my background:
- Most recently, Ken Hurley was the Vice-President of HR and Labor Relations for Kellogg’s North America Supply Chain Operations – responsible for developing and executing an HR and Labor Relations strategy across Kellogg’s 20+ North American manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and corporate supply chain support.
- Before Kellogg’s, he was an Executive HR Consultant for the American National Red Cross for two years, where I negotiated the first-ever nationwide collective bargaining agreement between the Red Cross and a coalition of 8 different International Unions to dramatically streamline and simplify the Red Cross’s operations across the U.S., covered by over 70 local union contracts.
- Before the Red Cross, he spent ten years at Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., first as its Vice-President of Labor Relations, then its Sr. Vice-President of Human Resources. Penske was a joint venture with GE, with over 20,000 employees and over 1000 locations globally.
- Prior to Penske, I was Corporate Director of Labor and Employee Relations for Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a nationwide long-term healthcare provider with over 50,000 employees and 400 locations.
- After graduating from the top-ranked Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, I started my career in California as a Labor and Employment Attorney.
What you can expect from me:
- Active listening from all stakeholders with a deep desire to understand the challenges before forming any opinions
- Honest, candid perspectives, assessments, and feedback
- Strong, authentic communicator, from the plant floor to the Board room – no ego
- Positive, relentless, “can-do” approach where nothing is impossible
- Empathy and support for the people and stakeholders responsible for delivering business results in a challenging environment – focused on improving people and processes.
- A sense of humor to make our journey more enjoyable for all
To learn more, feel free to check out Ken Hurley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenhurley1/
