To kick off our “Spotlight On” series, Jennifer London, our Content Marketing Manager, recently sat down with Lynn Prust, Senior Workplace Investigator and Investigation Manager, to chat about Lynn’s unique background.

I knew I wanted to do an employee spotlight on Lynn Prust from the day I met her. Like many of our staff members, Lynn’s background includes an impressive breadth of experience and list of accomplishments. Lynn has over three decades of experience in HR and employee relations across industries such as healthcare, retail management, and medical device manufacturing. Prior to joining the HRSAW team, Lynn was the Director of Employee Relations for Boston Scientific Corporation, where she managed a global employee relations team for almost ten years. The moment you talk to her, you realize that her professional accomplishments are the result of her innate ability to make connections with people; simply put, she is one of the kindest, most patient, and deeply caring people you may ever have the pleasure of working with.

Is she amazing at her job? A leader in her field? Widely respected? Yes, yes, and yes. But a lot of people can answer yes to all of those questions and not stand out from the crowd. 

Lynn can.

Lynn’s passion for making an impact led to her starting her career as HR Generalist and growing professionally to HR Manager, Employee Relations Manager, and Director of Employee Relations – and all the while, it was never about the role she held or the goal of being a high-powered executive; it was about the connections she made along the way.

As an example, Lynn told me about a time she visited a job site as part of a workplace investigation. Here she was, showing up to investigate a serious allegation, which might normally make employees clam up around her — but instead of wary looks and half-hearted nods, she was greeted with smiles and exclamations of how glad the employees were to see her. That’s not to say that Lynn is a softie; she’s a keen judge of character and has an incredible ability to look objectively at a situation to suss out what’s relevant to the case she’s investigating. Rather, she has developed a reputation for being fair, for not merely listening to what people have to say but for actually making people feel heard as well.

People ask me, why do you enjoy working in employee relations? The reason I enjoy it is because usually someone has a concern about something, and you’re helping sort through that issue. You’re investigating, but you’re also helping to put something in place to help both parties through the situation. And so it [is] just very rewarding. I’ve had cases where people would say to me, “Thank you for listening. No one has listened to me.” And that’s where, you know, it wasn’t just investigating something. It was taking it another step after that. 

As the eldest of four children, a tried-and-true Midwesterner who is the epitome of “Minnesota nice,” Lynn’s desire to help people was ingrained in her practically since birth. Lynn’s cousin Cindy, who worked in HR, inspired a young Lynn to find a career where she could make a difference in people’s lives. Maybe it’s as simple as being captain of varsity soccer in high school, seeing firsthand how a good leader can unify their team, play to each person’s strengths, and motivate their teammates to perform at their best. Whatever her guiding motivation, this passion for making an impact has guided the course of Lynn’s career.

In addition to conducting workplace investigations, throughout her career Lynn has helped employers develop accommodations for employees with disabilities. Lynn became sensitive to the challenges faced by people with disabilities in the workplace after watching her parents and other family members suffer from health issues from a young age, and she continues to advocate for people with disabilities and educate other HR professionals regarding disability accommodations. In her role at Boston Scientific, Lynn partnered with two organizations, Disability:In and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), researching and then sharing best practices for accommodating employees with disabilities. As part of this work, she presented at conferences, led training sessions for HR business partners and leadership teams on disability inclusion and equality, and paved the way for new processes companies could use to handle accommodations and accommodation requests. 

Lynn is softspoken, considers her words carefully before she speaks, and rarely interrupts when someone else is speaking. And yet, when Lynn speaks, everyone in the room stops to listen to her insights. She is a leader without even meaning to be; in fact, she insists that her career path is the result of having been fortunate to have wonderful teammates working together toward the same goal. Everything she does, she does with compassion, always taking the time to consider all perspectives, give the benefit of the doubt, and — above all — to keep her eyes on the prize. 

What is that prize? Making a difference. Leaving the world a better place than she found it.

I don’t feel like I have to be out in the spotlight. [It’s about] wanting to make an impact versus having to be out there in front — it doesn’t matter what role I’m doing as long as I’m making a difference.

I wrapped up our interview with a question: What does Lynn think is the most important skill for a workplace investigator to have? 

By now, her answer shouldn’t surprise you: 

Being able to listen. No, wait: taking the time to listen. There is nothing more important.

Because every situation presents unique facts, the information provided in this article is for general information and is not intended to be legal advice regarding any specific situation. This information may be considered advertising in some states. Any links to third-party sites are for your convenience. HR Solutions At Work does not endorse specific sites or guarantee the accuracy of the information on those sites. Please contact us if you have any questions about this information or our services.