Employee Profile: Human Resources Professional Diann Livingston

Senior Human Resources Generalist Diann Livingston will retire from Louisville Water on June 30.

How long have you worked for the company?

Livingston: I’ve worked in Human Resources for Louisville Water for 16 years. I was hired in 2005 as a Human Resources Analyst. In 2008, our jobs were reclassified as Human Resources Generalists. In 2018, I was promoted to Senior Human Resources Generalist.

What do you like best about your job?

Meeting people. I’m a people person so it’s nice to work for a small company. It gives you the chance to meet everyone. This has been my family — my home — for many years.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced?

When I started, our HR system was an old DOS program called Ensemble. I thought I stepped back in time, but shortly thereafter we implemented a new HR system.

The most challenging part of my job is delivering bad news. No one wants to hear the word no or you’re not eligible or that’s not covered.

What was your most memorable day at work?

I don’t recall a memorable day, but I do recall a couple of funny moments. The previous HR director once played an April Fool’s day prank on me that would have involved firing my brother-in-law. Then I realized it was a joke.

Also, one of my HR colleagues placed a fake roach in my desk drawer, and I screamed so loud everyone on the first floor popped their heads up over their cubicle walls to see what was happening.

And I’ll never forget a “resume” we received. The applicant thought he attached his resume but instead it was a letter from his mom telling him to get a job and get out of her basement.

What do you plan to do after you retire?

I have a lot going on this year, including managing two households. Our oldest son and daughter-in law were married last year in a very small ceremony, so we are doing the full wedding event this year. Plus, our youngest son is back home from college, and we are helping him find a place of his own.

Our nieces live with us too, and we also are helping them find their own place. I will be busy. My husband and I bought a retirement lake home last year, so I plan to spend some relaxing days by the pool or chilling at the lake.