The Georgia Department of Labor has received the “Model Agency Award” for Excellence in Human Resources from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, after earning the highest assessment score among all Tier 1 agencies at 97.6 percent.

State officials say the award reflects GDOL’s strong human resources leadership, solid compliance practices, and a workforce strategy designed to support service delivery across Georgia. The recognition also comes as the agency continues what it calls a bold modernization effort aimed at creating a more people-centered organization and providing faster, more responsive services to workers and employers.

“Behind every service we deliver to Georgians is a team of dedicated professionals who make it possible,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes, adding that the honor highlights the role of the agency’s HR team as GDOL works to modernize systems and reimagine how services are delivered statewide.

The DOAS HR Assessment measures how well agencies understand and apply human resources laws, policies, and best practices. GDOL’s Tier 1 designation indicates strong compliance and a people-first approach intended to reduce risk and support an engaged workforce. The assessment also provides agencies with comparative benchmarking and identifies areas for continued growth.

GDOL Chief Human Resources Officer Lee Rudd said the award reflects the agency’s focus on best practices and data-driven decision-making to build a high-performing, future-ready workforce.

DOAS program manager Latatia West also commended the department’s HR team, noting GDOL posted the top results among Tier 1 agencies.