Case Study: DePaul Housing Management

Background

DePaul Housing Management Corporation has been providing senior affordable housing for 46 years. They currently manage communities in five counties in upstate New York. They have 45 employees, most of whom are on-site, spread throughout their 15 properties. They employed an HR generalist whom they shared with a non-profit organization for many years. When that HR staff member left, Mary Beth Purcell, Executive Director, and Jill McLellan Phelps, Director of Affordable Housing & Special Projects, needed to find a solution for their HR needs.

Finding a Solution

DePaul Housing Management needed HR consulting services that could:

• Provide on-site HR assistance to employees
• Handle all HR aspects of the organization
• Manage and process their payroll
• Provide state-mandated training and compliance services

A Better Way: HR Consulting from GTM Payroll Services

GTM’s HR consulting services met DePaul Housing’s needs and more.

DePaul Housing Management looked at several HR consulting firms before engaging with Pinnacle HR, which was acquired by GTM in 2021.

The Solution
GTM began providing on-site HR services, including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, coaching, training, employee relations, workplace investigations, payroll administration, benefits administration, employee handbook updates, and employee leave management.

“GTM offers flexibility and collaboration, and it’s very important for us and our staff to have an HR person on-site,” says Purcell.

An extraordinarily different experience

Outsourcing all or part of your HR functions to experts is an increasingly attractive and time-saving option as organizations, like DePaul Housing Management, try to manage the complexities of an ever-changing legal compliance landscape, manage and retain talent, and implement HR best practices that align employees with business goals.

Smaller, non-profit organizations, like DePaul Housing Management, may have limited internal human resources infrastructure and may not be able to justify an HR member on staff. Or they may need additional HR resources and assistance to free up time for their team without hiring a full-time HR professional.

By utilizing GTM’s experienced HR consultants, employers can quickly effect changes through targeted human resources support solutions tailored to their needs. GTM’s HR clients improve infrastructure by implementing better payroll technology and best practices in HR processes, freeing up valuable time and resources.

“Our consultant has great support throughout our organization,” says Phelps. “They have been so helpful to us.”

On-site HR Services
GTM’s consultant spends time interacting with the staff at each of DePaul Housing Management’s properties.

“Our consultant meets with employees on-site or via phone or email,” says Purcell. “The staff feels good about confidentiality and are comfortable speaking with them.”

HR compliance support
DePaul Housing Management needs its employee handbook to be current and compliant with federal, state, and local laws. It must also be updated as new federal and state laws are added or current regulations are amended.

“GTM offers not just one consultant, but a community of peers,” said Phelps. “They are on top of HR practices and provide peace of mind that we are in compliance.”

Exceptional local service and support
With their HR generalist no longer on staff, DePaul Housing Management needed stability and consistency in its HR services.

“We needed a variety of on-site HR services – it was important to have someone in person that our staff could go to, and GTM has been very helpful in that regard,” says Purcell.

Conclusion
With GTM Payroll & HR, organizations like DePaul Housing Management receive experienced, accomplished professionals who deliver expert HR solutions, including HR and compliance consulting and employee handbook services to clients across the country. By developing HR strategies that align with business goals by leveraging their experience, knowledge, and tools, GTM delivers value beyond expectations.

“We have been so happy with the HR services that we are going to start using GTM’s payroll platform as well,” says Phelps. “We are going to streamline payroll and HR onto one platform.”