Knox County Human Resources Director Courtney Lower informed the Board of Commissioners on October 28 that her department is undertaking a significant project to digitize its files.
"I think the department heads are also looking forward to that because now there's a lot of scan it in, email it to us, and we sometimes will have to print it out and put it in their paper file, and that's really inefficient. So I think this will be a great thing for us," Lower said, according to a meeting video.
According to the video, Lower said that two staff members were equipped with desktop scanners to facilitate the digitization process, aiming to make files less cumbersome and more secure. This initiative will ensure that files are backed up. Medical files and workers' compensation files are included in this digitization effort. The digitized files will have different security access levels, with limited access for most employees. Department heads and elected officials will be able to upload files directly, including personnel files if the HR Department manages those records for them.
Open enrollment for benefits began on November 3 and ends on November 14. Lower mentioned that this period includes more than just medical benefits; supplemental options like dependent life insurance are also available. Employees wishing to continue these benefits must take action during open enrollment.
Lower reported that the HR Department is currently monitoring 24 Family and Medical Leave cases, an increase from 20 in September.
HR training has been rescheduled to November 17 from 9 to 11 a.m., as per Lower's statement. She noted limited scheduling options due to trainer availability. The training session will take place at the Memorial Building, with elected officials and department heads reaching out to confirm their attendance.
