Celebrating HR Professionals Day - A Day to Show Appreciation for SDG&E’s People & Culture Teams

Human Resource Professional Day, celebrated each year on Sep. 26, is a tribute to the unsung heroes who work to create positive, supportive workplaces. HR professionals play a vital role in nurturing employee well-being, fostering growth, and guiding organizations toward success. Today, we recognize their efforts and the immense impact they have on both individuals and the heart of our organization.

"I am excited and proud to highlight the HR professionals of the People & Culture department of SDG&E!” says Vice President of People & Culture Janette Piankoff. "These professionals are the architects of our company’s culture, the guardians of its values, and the champions of its people. They shape the future by nurturing the present, ensuring that every employee feels valued, heard, and empowered to reach their full potential. Today, we celebrate their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment as they make our workplaces not just a place to work, but a place to thrive.”

Meet the Human Resources Teams

Senior Director of HR & Labor Relations Ali Taylor says, “I have the distinct pleasure of working with a team that could give superheroes a run for their money. Our HR professionals are the heartbeat of our company, recruiting not only the top talent but also working tirelessly to ensure a commitment to excellence, innovation, and doing the right thing while also cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment. On this HR Professionals Day, I am deeply grateful for the phenomenal work they do every single day, often without fanfare. As David Bowie said, “We can be heroes, just for one day,” and my team takes that approach to heart. I am continually humbled by how they treat every employee interaction with grace, care, and integrity to build our company culture so that our employees feel valued.”

Employee Care Services

Employee Care Services plays a vital role in supporting the well-being and needs of employees through a variety of focused services. This team manages all aspects of leaves of absence, including FMLA and Workers' Compensation, ensuring that employees receive the appropriate support during times of need. They also handle reasonable accommodation requests to create inclusive work environments.?

Additionally, Employee Care Services promotes wellness through programs like the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), health and fitness initiatives, financial wellness resources, and backup child and elder care through Bright Horizons. The team is also responsible for pre-employment drug testing, random testing for DOT positions, and drug and alcohol testing to maintain a safe and compliant workplace.

Wellness Programs Advisor, Ann Ellis, explains, “Being a wellness programs advocate allows me to inspire and empower others to lead healthier, happier lives. It’s a privilege to be a part of someone’s journey towards well-being and to witness the positive transformations that come from prioritizing health and wellness.”

Ethics & Investigations

The Ethics & Investigations department plays a crucial role in upholding Sempra’s commitment to ethical business practices by administering the Ethics & Compliance Helpline, providing employees with a confidential resource to report concerns or seek guidance on ethical issues. The team also offers valuable resources, training, and support to ensure employees understand how to conduct business in a manner that aligns with both company values and legal requirements. By fostering a culture of integrity, the Ethics & Investigations department helps maintain high standards of ethical conduct across the organization.

Ethics Investigations Manager Alex Balkin says, “We love that, every day, we get to help diverse stakeholders across the company with problems big and small.”

HR Business Partners & HR Coordinators

HR Business Partners focus on providing guidance with HR policy interpretation, offering support for employee performance management, handling employee relations, and managing promotion requests and job profile changes. They also assist with employee and department reorganizations, and employee separations to ensure seamless transitions.? HR Coordinators, on the other hand, support leaders and the HR team by processing retirements, voluntary terminations, and handling My Info transactions. They are responsible for managing employee personnel file requests, ensuring that HR operations run efficiently, and employees’ needs are addressed promptly.

"My favorite aspect of working in human resources is the opportunity to assist individuals and contribute to the strategic vision of each business unit I support. I particularly enjoy collaborating with them to develop mutually beneficial solutions,” explains Senior HR Business Partner Stephanie Crise.

Compensation

The Compensation team plays a critical role in ensuring that employees are fairly and competitively rewarded for their contributions. Their focus areas include administering compensation programs such as salary planning, the Incentive Compensation Program (ICP), and other incentive-based initiatives. This team also manages salary administration to maintain equitable pay practices across the organization. In addition, the Compensation team oversees job administration, including the job leveling process, career level reviews, and the maintenance of the job catalog and profiles, ensuring consistency and clarity in roles and responsibilities throughout the company.

"I love my job at SDG&E because it allows me to make a tangible impact on both the organization and its employees,” explains Senior Compensation Advisor Michelle Corso. “I really enjoy the collaborative environment in my role. Working with a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do is incredibly motivating. Additionally, I appreciate the opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work on challenging projects. The collaboration and inclusiveness that define our workplace make every day rewarding and inspiring!”

HR Compliance & HRIS

The HR Compliance & HR Information System (HRIS) team is essential in ensuring that the organization adheres to all regulatory requirements and optimizes its HR data systems. Their responsibilities include managing HR compliance-related projects and initiatives, such as internal and external audits for Affiliate Compliance, NERC-CIP, and I9 audits. They also handle GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) tasks, including responding to data requests and providing witness testimony for HR matters. Additionally, the team oversees the management of HRIS, focusing on maintaining data integrity, implementing data and report controls, creating dashboards, and driving process improvements and system optimization to support HR operations efficiently.

“The operational functions of HR change daily (or sometimes hourly) which gives our group the ability to promptly adapt to situations, showcase creative problem solving, and strategically make decisions for the benefit of our employees,” explains HR Analyst Will Nieves.

Labor Relations

The Labor Relations team plays a pivotal role in maintaining a harmonious and compliant work environment by advising and training client organizations on employee and labor relations issues. They assess risks to the business and develop strategic approaches for performance management and disciplinary actions. The team is responsible for administering collective bargaining agreements, ensuring alignment with company policies and procedures. Additionally, they implement outcomes from arbitrations, grievances, and mediation processes, while working to reconcile any differences between labor laws and the collective bargaining agreements. This ensures fair and legally sound practices across the organization.

In a short and sweet statement Labor Relations Advisor Team Lead Jay Johnson states, “Accountability solves all problems.”

Talent Acquisition

The Talent Acquisition team is dedicated to guiding and managing the hiring process across a variety of roles, including management, associate, technical, and represented positions. They oversee internal placements into TJC (Temporary Job Change) opportunities and play a key role in hiring for university and college programs, such as associate rotational programs and internships. Their focus extends to strategic diversity outreach and sourcing top talent to build a diverse and skilled workforce. Additionally, the team administers the assessment and selection process for hiring, ensures a smooth onboarding experience for new hires, and supports Workforce Readiness Programs to prepare employees for success in their roles.

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist Anna Kowal explains, “It gives me the opportunity to build relationships with people as I work with them on one of the most important and meaningful aspects?of their lives --their careers.”

Organizational Effectiveness & Inclusion

The Organizational Effectiveness & Inclusion team focuses on fostering a culture of growth, inclusion, and high performance within the company. Their key areas include Organizational Development, where they design strategies to enhance team dynamics and business processes, and Talent Development, which focuses on cultivating employee skills and leadership capabilities. “I love working as an Employee Development Advisor because it gives me the opportunity to share information that can really help people grow in their career and their personal life, explains Robin Richardson. “It’s very rewarding to see people using the techniques I’ve shared to achieve better results.”

“I am privileged to hold one of the most rewarding positions at SDG&E as a Sr. Diversity & Inclusion Advisor,” says Marlon Taylor. “Through the work we’ve done providing training, launching employee resource groups and the Union D&I Ambassador program, we’ve had the opportunity to empower individuals to embrace their authentic selves while equipping them with the tools to uplift others.”?

“Today, we celebrate the incredible dedication and hard work of all our HR professionals who help to ensure our SDG&E workplaces are supportive, inclusive, and thriving. And a special thank you to the OE & Inclusion team for your amazing efforts in fostering a positive work environment and supporting the development of our employees. Thank you for all that you do!” says, Dir. of Organizational Effectiveness & Inclusion Melissa Steeg.?

The team also conducts HR Research & Analysis to inform decision-making and drive improvements across HR initiatives. In addition, they champion Diversity & Inclusion efforts, ensuring that the workplace is equitable and inclusive for all employees.?

“I feel valued as a part of this team based on my contributions and, more importantly, as an individual. Having an impact on the employee experience is always rewarding, but especially when the employees are serving my community every day,” says HR Research & Analysis Advisor Rebekah Whitaker.

As you can see from this break down of our amazing HR Teams that being in HR can be a tremendous task. So please be sure to take a moment to recognize our hardworking HR teams on this Human Resource Professional Day!