Gail Peterson Story

Hannah Schott
Nov. 2, 2009
Peterson story

Tight deadlines can cause headaches, but Gail Peterson said she gains a sense of accomplishment after deadlines are met. Peterson, who works at the Human Resources office of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Coon Rapids campus, is responsible for arranging the college faculty's salary transactions, insurance coverage and retirement benefits.
Peterson has deadlines for processing payroll transactions every two weeks. When a deadline arrives, I have accomplished something and finished something, said Peterson, and I know people are going to be paid.
"I have that sense of satisfaction when certain deadlines have been met," Peterson added.
Tight deadlines restrict when Peterson can take time off work. I really do not have the freedom to be able to use vacation time when I want to, she commented, and I think my job would be tough for somebody who was married and had a family. "I'm single and I don't have any kids, so it isn't quite so bad for me," she said.
The busiest times of the year for Peterson are directly before the fall, spring and summer semesters, when she sets up the faculty in the personnel payroll system. Peterson said her job, which has varying workloads during the year that climax before semesters, gives her both times of challenge and times to relax.
Peterson began her job three and a half years ago during a rush before the fall semester. Her first day was frustrating, she said, because her co-workers in the Human Resources office were so busy.
No one really had time to show me anything or tell me anything, Peterson explained.
Peterson was not familiar with the computer system used at Anoka-Ramsey, which was one of the reasons she wanted to work at the college.
I knew I would be learning this particular personnel payroll database, and I really wanted to learn it, Peterson said. "I knew that it would be really challenging," she added.
Peterson said she also wanted to work at Anoka-Ramsey because she worked at a college before and knows that college employees have a commitment to their jobs.
They really care about doing a good job for the students, she commented.
The faculty are interesting people to work with, according to Peterson. "They all have their different areas that they know a lot about," she said.
Peterson said she knows that the faculty do not have time to worry about their pay, insurance and retirement, and is happy that the faculty can come to her if they have concerns.
After they talk to me, they do not have to worry anymore and can focus on the duties they have to perform, Peterson said.
Peterson said her job at Anoka-Ramsey has changed since she began working there. She has gained two more co-workers, which has lightened her workload and made her duties more specific.
My job also changed after I made it through the steep learning curve, Peterson added. "I'm more comfortable in my job and not as stressed out by the deadlines because I'm better able to judge the amount of work and how long it's really going to take to get it done," she said.
Peterson recommended math, computer and communications classes to students looking for a job in a Human Resources office.