Employee Profile: Kendall Boyd

Worked at Louisville Water since 2023

Kendall Boyd is Louisville Water’s Manager of Employee and Labor Relations. He’s also one of the company’s newest employees.

“I started in February and I am a liaison between the union and the company,” he said. “I’m here to resolve any issues that may exist between management and employees, as well as make sure any disciplinary actions are equitable and consistent. I hope to make this one of the best places to work in Louisville.”

Boyd said the best part of his job is working with employees.

“Everyone here does remarkable work. Whether you’re an emergency turner or a metering specialist, listening to how our employees talk about their jobs really shows how passionate they are,” he said.

There are some parts of the job that aren’t as pleasant.

“Employee engagement also involves discipline. When there is a violation of one of our policies, you hate to discipline (an employee) especially if they are going through something. A lot of employees have issues going on outside of work. Sometimes, those issues can carry over and affect how they do their job. When you have to discipline someone who is already going through a tough time, that’s the dark side of the work that I do,” Boyd said.

Maintaining a positive and safe work environment is the company’s top priority.

“With the unfortunate workplace incidents we’re seeing around the country, we don’t want anyone to come here to take their anger out against other employees,” Boyd said.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Boyd reinforced several resources available for employees who may need help.

“For anyone having a tough time mentally, financially, or emotionally, we have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We have trained and experienced people you can talk to about what’s going on in your life. I always encourage people to call sooner than later. With our current political climate and what we saw unfold in the workplace shooting downtown last month, things can get overwhelming,” Boyd said. “The last thing we want to see is someone harm themselves or someone else. We also don’t want to see someone get terminated because they can’t keep up with their job responsibilities because of something they are dealing with at home.”

Although the EAP is confidential and available for all employees, Boyd said there’s an embarrassment that sometimes accompanies mental health awareness.

“We need to take the stigma away. People tend to associate mental health with ‘being crazy’ or ‘having issues’. If you don’t get help for what’s bothering you, it can lead to violence, self harm, or drug and alcohol abuse,” he said.

When Boyd isn’t advocating for mental health awareness, he enjoys going to the lake and spending time with his family.

“I’m an attorney who drives a pickup truck and I have a bass boat,” Boyd chuckled. “I love fishing and going to Patoka Lake in Indiana. Once a year, I go up to Lake Erie.  If I’m not fishing, you might find me at a cigar bar around town.”