A woman is talking
A woman is talking

Employee and Labor Relations


Who we are

Employee and Labor Relations is a team of specialists and analysts dedicated to cultivating work environments aligned with USC’s Unifying Values through early intervention and fact-finding. Proactively assisting staff, faculty, supervisors, and HR professionals in addressing concerns and resolving conflict, the team focuses on preventing, mitigating, and resolving problems that impact the workplace.  

What we do

The Employee and Labor Relations team cultivates a culture where all faculty, staff, and other working Trojans embrace the university’s Unifying Values, including integrity, excellence, and accountability. The team plays a crucial role in implementing policies and procedures that articulate and recognize these values.

The team serves a diverse community of faculty, staff (both union and non-union), and student workers, with a specialization in the following services: 

  • Employment practices, strategy, and policy development: When Employee and Labor Relations subject matter expertise is needed, they provide insight and guidance to align policies and practices that ensure a healthy work environment, address conduct concerns, and reduce the likelihood that issues will escalate or recur.   
  • Workplace concern intervention strategy design and response: Whether the concerns are acute, persistent, or immediate, the ELR team offers assistance, ranging from quick consultation to continuous intervention and implementing solutions, to addressing a spectrum of unsatisfactory performance and unacceptable behavior.   
  • Formal and informal employee concern resolution: For matters not handled by other investigative or compliance offices, ELR collaborates with various campus partners to resolve issues and gather facts before the issues escalate to formal grievances or disciplinary action.  
  • Outreach and education: Employee and Labor Relations partners with other offices to provide general and customized education and training. This includes informative guides, handouts, supplemental training materials, workshops, and presentations.  

Through the implementation of recommendations from the  Employee Relations Advisory and Consultative Groups, the Employee Labor and Relations Office serves as a vital support system to elevate the employee experience and secure USC’s status as an employer of choice. 

To report concerns and get the support you need, and for a list of all supportive and confidential resources, visit the Report & Response website.