BCIU provides select human resources (HR) and legal advocacy services on an outsourcing basis. We have the expertise to assist you in optimizing the delivery of your HR functions. Areas of specialization include:

For more information on these services, which are available to school districts and non-profit organizations, please contact Karen B. Gokay, Esquire, Director of Human Resources and Public Relations, at 610-987-8470 or kargok@berksiu.org.



Labor Relations and Legal Advocacy

Labor relations and legal advocacy involves assisting school districts in negotiating and interpreting collective bargaining agreements, devising strategy in the early stages of a grievance, and advocating the school district's position in grievance arbitration. We have the expertise to advise school districts whether to pursue a negotiated settlement or proceed to a grievance hearing.

BCIU also will provide a skilled negotiator to coach local personnel or act as chief negotiator at the bargaining table in the context of professional or nonprofessional negotiations. In addition, BCIU has expertise in meet-and-discuss strategies and Act 93 obligations.

We can help you avoid and resolve conflict.

BCIU teaches and implements preventive practices aimed at avoiding conflict and setting the stage for early and successful resolution of disputes.

You can't avoid conflict entirely. However, you often can control the facts leading up to a conflict and how you respond to a conflict once it occurs. Let us help you arrange for the occurrence of events that works in your favor. Once conflict occurs, let us help you analyze the risk of loss involved and whether to resolve the conflict amicably.

BCIU labor relations and legal advocacy services are billed at $95 per hour plus reimbursable costs. To inquire about how your school or organization could benefit from these BCIU services, please contact Karen B. Gokay, Esquire, Director of Human Resources and Public Relations, at 610-987-8470 or kargok@berksiu.org.

Auditing/Developing Policies and Procedures

Consistent and fair policy implementation prevents conflict.

After adopting board policies, most school districts shelve their policy manuals, only referring to them when "the need arises." Consistent and fair implementation of board policies, however, is 
an effective means of avoiding costly litigation and challenges to school governance.

Let us help you put into place written best practices for implementing all of your HR policies. Best practices provide clearly written guidelines to incumbent and new employees for policy 
implementation. Applying best practices to policy implementation fosters consistency and fairness.

A policy audit involves a review of existing board policies and procedures as they relate to human resources and offering suggested modifications or new policies and procedures that  represent the best practices in the industry. If a comprehensive audit is not required or desired, we can provide services a la carte, such as the development of a policy or administrative  procedure.

BCIU policies and procedures auditing and developing services are billed at $70 per hour plus reimbursable costs. To inquire about how your school or organization could benefit from these BCIU services, please contact Karen B. Gokay, Esquire, Director of Human Resources and Public Relations, at 610-987-8470 or kargok@berksiu.org.

Human Resources Consulting and Employee Training

Our HR consultant/coach can guide your staff to a higher level of professional performance.

BCIU offers HR consulting services to human resources personnel. Specifically, such services involve researching and assisting personnel in addressing complex HR issues. In addition, our consultant is available to work with individual staff members to establish procedures designed to ensure the effective and efficient administration of an HR office.

Employee training is offered on a variety of topics, such as discrimination, harassment, diversity, effective supervision, employee evaluations, interview techniques, etc. Employee training is a requirement in the areas of diversity and discrimination, and effective training is insurance against liability. Having a coach who knows the answers to your HR questions will enable your human resources department to implement best practices and avoid costly mistakes.

BCIU human resource consulting and employee training services are billed at $70 per hour plus reimbursable costs. To inquire about how your school or organization could benefit from these  BCIU services, please contact Karen B. Gokay, Esquire, Director of Human Resources and Public Relations, at 610-987-8470 or kargok@berksiu.org.