Bridging Gaps with Technology: How isolved Helps Remote HR Thrive in Alaska

At the recent HR Technology Conference, Steve and Trish took some time in the isolved booth to connect with Jaylene Owen, Director of HR and Payroll at Hames Corporation and isolved customer. They discussed the transformative role of isolved technology in overcoming the unique challenges of HR management in remote and complex environments.

The Unique Challenges of Remote HR Management Jaylene’s position at Hames Corporation, a multi-business enterprise on the island of Sitka, Alaska, requires her to navigate distinct HR hurdles, from coordinating across community-driven family networks to adapting her approach to a limited local labor pool. Her career path, including experience at Goodwill Industries, gave her a foundation in dealing with challenging workforce scenarios, including second-chance hiring and high-turnover positions—skills that now play a critical role in managing Hames Corp’s diverse workforce that when she arrived, had out of date HR practices.

How isolved Enables Efficiency and Transformation For Jaylene, isolved’s comprehensive HR platform has been a game-changer. Before adopting this new technology, payroll, benefits management, and other HR functions were handled manually, placing a heavy administrative burden on her as a solo HR leader. With isolved, Hames Corp. was able to implement critical features like carrier feeds for benefits administration and an HRIS to streamline payroll, onboarding, and day-to-day HR tasks. The relief from this administrative burden was palpable, allowing Jaylene to shift her focus toward strategic people management, which would have been impossible without a reliable and user-friendly system.

“I needed to find something that wasn’t going to break the bank. Being a smaller employer, I wanted all the bells and whistles, but at the same time, how do you do that and still make it work for such a unique environment?”

 

Creating Community Connection Through isolved Having a technology that does more than automate tasks; the isolved platform has become a tool for strengthening Jaylene’s connection to the community and making a consistent experience across multiple employers in Sitka. The ease and accessibility mean that even less tech-savvy employees can access their payroll information, benefits, and more through a user-friendly mobile app. Jaylene shared an example of how isolved helped her manage during a recent outage, where simple adaptability allowed her to pivot as needed to keep operations running smoothly despite limited internet access. By establishing this foundational tool, Hames Corp has fostered greater cohesion with other local businesses, many of whom now also use isolved, allowing employees to experience seamless HR support across roles and organizations.

Empowering Growth and Adaptation with isolved’s Scalable Solutions isolved’s scalability has allowed Jaylene to implement HR technologies gradually, allowing her workforce—comprising employees of diverse ages and backgrounds—to grow with the system comfortably. Her team can now access digital pay stubs, view their benefits, and connect with HR support, fostering autonomy and engagement in a way that previously wasn’t possible. This empowerment of employees is a testament to the growth potential of isolved technology, especially in remote locations like Sitka, where community-focused HR strategies often require customized approaches.

“As an HR team of one…if I forgot [to unenroll terminated employees], my billing reconciliation when I got that bill was a nightmare. And so a lot of the things that I found myself struggling with was, how do I get to a place where I can actually empower my own self so I can do more?”

Building a Supportive Culture through isolved Jaylene was able to fulfill her vision of HR as a relationship-centered role. She emphasized how isolved’s tools allow her to focus on what matters most: her people. The isolved platform supports her in streamlining essential HR processes, which frees her to build a culture that prioritizes employees’ well-being. The technology empowers her to engage employees meaningfully and ensures they feel supported, whether seasoned staff members or new hires navigating their first jobs.

Bridging Gaps, Fostering Growth, and Enabling Resilience Hames Corp. has been able to drive meaningful change for their HR professional—even in their remote and unconventional setting. isolved’s solutions offer adaptability, consistency, and a reliable way to manage complex tasks, cultivating a resilient, empowered workforce in unique communities. For HR professionals at all levels, isolved is not just a tool, but a support system that demonstrates how modern HR technology can bridge gaps, foster employee growth, and strengthen an organization’s connection to its people and community.

Check out the full episode here