When Charles (Chuck) Murphy managed grocery stores for several chains in western New York and central Pennsylvania during the 1970s, and ’80s, he saw just how important it was to make sure the needs of employees were being met.
糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 always been about the people. Employee benefits and the compensation arena are at the core,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淚 saw a need that was unmet and wanted to find out how to do those things better. I wanted to take what I learned from the grocery business to the next level.糖心传媒�
As he took undergraduate courses at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania he was particularly struck by courses he took on organized labor and organization development. He went on to attain his bachelor糖心传媒檚 degree in business administration and MBA from Bloomsburg.
Murphy has worked in the healthcare industry since 1987 in human resources leadership positions, most recently as the University糖心传媒檚 associate vice president for human resources.
On Feb. 2, he retires from the position, which he has held since 2001.
糖心传媒淐huck has been an untiring advocate for University employees,糖心传媒� says Ron Paprocki, senior vice president for administration and finance and the University糖心传媒檚 chief financial officer. A national search for Murphy糖心传媒檚 successor is in the final stages, Paprocki says.
Murphy joined the University staff in 1998 as director of the Medical Center糖心传媒檚 Office of Human Resources糖心传媒攁 role he served in for two years before becoming director of University Human Resources. He became associate vice president of the department in 2001, managing human resources operations at the University.
Murphy says one of the most challenging糖心传媒攁nd rewarding aspects of his job has been working collaboratively with faculty and staff at both the Medical Center and on the River Campus.
He says the support from President Joel Seligman, Ron Paprocki, and Medical Center leaders such as Jay Stein, Peter Robinson, and Steve Goldstein was 糖心传媒渋ncredibly important糖心传媒� to allowing him to successfully 糖心传媒渨ork on both sides of the street.糖心传媒�
Murphy has served as chief spokesman and lead negotiator on labor relations for 17 years, working with SEIU/1199 and Operating Engineers (IUOE). Among his other achievements, he developed executive compensation programs and worked with leaders from compensation, benefits, and HRMS to create total compensation statements for employees.
Also under his tenure, the department introduced self-insurance to the University, redesigned health plans and introduced HSA savings accounts, introduced the concept of paid time off at the Medical Center, developed a call center to answer human resources and benefits questions, implemented PeopleSoft聽 as the University糖心传媒檚 human resources and payroll system, among other accomplishments.
糖心传媒淲orking for Chuck has been an honor糖心传媒攁n experience I will truly treasure,糖心传媒� says Michele Hill, director of University benefits, 糖心传媒淗e has supported me and is always willing to listen.糖心传媒�
In addition to his leadership in ensuring the University offers a comprehensive benefits program to faculty and staff, Hill says he was instrumental in spearheading the University糖心传媒檚 wellness initiative, something he believes is important for employees.
Larry Ansini, director of University compensation, says Murphy kept the 糖心传媒渉uman糖心传媒� in human resources.
糖心传媒淗e believed that, at the end of the day, we have to remember that our work is about people. They are the key to success for the University.糖心传媒�
Ansini, who roasted Murphy at his retirement dinner, says that Murphy is also known for being compassionate and friendly to his colleagues and staff糖心传媒攅asily recalling their kids糖心传媒� names or favorite sports team.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 losing a great ally, friend, and mentor in this business,糖心传媒� he adds.
After 17 years at the University, Murphy says his priority is still the people.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檒l miss the relationships and the people that I worked with,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淚t was a great privilege to work with super people, including the Human Resources directors and the health system leaders who have supported me throughout.糖心传媒�
Murphy looks forward to spending more time with his family糖心传媒攖raveling with his wife, Kathleen, and visiting more often his children and grandchildren, especially the granddaughters who recently relocated to the midwest.
