The City of Columbus, OH, had long relied on manual processes and spreadsheets for their labor negotiations. But, as inflation soared and wage compression became a growing issue, these traditional methods were no longer able to keep up with the city’s needs. Faced with mounting union pressures, tight budgets, and high turnover in budget staff, Columbus needed a more effective way to analyze labor costs and forecast the financial impact of workforce changes.
Chris Moses, Director of Human Resources for the City of Columbus, recalled the pain points that initially led the city to search for a more advanced solution. “We started about a year ahead of when we knew the contracts would be up. Gathering the information was a time-consuming process that relied heavily on manual data entry.”
A Push for Greater Efficiency and Transparency
As the city prepared for the 2023 labor negotiations, it became clear that they needed a more dynamic tool — one that could handle not just basic wage calculations but also detailed cost analysis across departments and funding sources. Columbus wanted a system that could offer greater transparency and give them the flexibility to model different negotiation scenarios in real-time.
Moses explained, “The ability to quickly model different wage proposals and see their financial impact in real-time was critical. We needed a solution that would not only save time but also give us the confidence to make informed decisions at the negotiation table.”
GovInvest: A Game-Changer for Columbus
After considering several platforms, Columbus chose GovInvest’s Labor Costing software for its ability to provide instant, accurate financial forecasts and support long-term workforce planning. The software’s intuitive design and flexibility gave the city the power to customize reports, adjust data in real-time, and gain a clearer understanding of labor costs across various scenarios.
“The reporting capabilities really blew us away,” Moses said. “We’re now able to adjust data, customize fields, and pull the relevant reports ourselves—without relying on external consultants. It’s saving us both time and money.”
Building Trust and Improving Negotiations
Since adopting GovInvest, Columbus has seen significant improvements in the way they handle labor negotiations. By presenting transparent, data-driven financial insights to union representatives, the city has been able to build trust and foster more productive conversations.
“With GovInvest, we’re able to show the unions exactly where we stand financially, making negotiations more transparent,” Moses added. “The trust that we’ve built through these accurate, real-time projections has been invaluable.”
Looking Ahead: Preparing for the Future with Confidence
Columbus is now better equipped to manage day-to-day negotiations as well as long-term labor forecasting and budgeting updates. With GovInvest, the city can easily forecast wage increases, minimum wage impacts, and mid-contract adjustments — ensuring they stay ahead of budgetary challenges while attracting and retaining top talent.
“Our goal is to establish trust both internally and externally with our union partners,” said Moses. “GovInvest’s system helps us achieve that by providing clear, accurate data in real-time.”
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For more information, view the webinar discussion with Chris Moses, Director of Human Resources for the City of Columbus here:
GovInvest | Effective Labor Negotiations in an Era of Union Empowerment featuring Columbus, OH
