The role of an organization’s human resources department reaches far beyond the hiring efforts or labor contract negotiations that were the focus of these departments in years past.

While those duties still remain, today HR departments have grown in scope and responsibility, generally now being recognized as the voice of reason when dealing with personnel issues.

Human resources directors should react calmly and with logic in situations that might have employees frustrated or angry. There should be no debate that the HR director always must follow company policy to the letter, being respectful to all parties involved while coaching employees through the situations in which he or she becomes involved.

Human resources directors generally are charged with ensuring company policies are followed and employment issues are handled fairly and with the utmost consistency throughout the organization. To accomplish these goals, HR directors must set examples of how employees should conduct themselves with professionalism.

That’s why we have been so disappointed, and frankly, appalled by the words and actions of Trumbull County Human Resources Director Richard Jackson in his public response to a county official elected by the residents to lead Trumbull County government.

Instead of using respect, personal restraint or even a level-headed approach in his response to new Commissioner Niki Frenchko, Jackson has demonstrated complete insubordination.

At a public meeting last month, Jackson accused Frenchko of not knowing “what the hell” she was talking about when she questioned his decision regarding the county’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation insurance.

Frenchko and Jackson have been at odds since she took office earlier this year. This month, Frenchko has accused Jackson of organizing an effort to bring complaints against her after six office employees named her as the cause of a hostile work environment and asking Jackson to investigate. Jackson said the women came to him with the complaints, not the other way around.

Exchanges between the two have grown increasingly more harsh.

Last week, however, Jackson crossed the line.

In an email Friday addressed to Frenchko but copied to all Trumbull County employees and department heads, including Trumbull County common pleas judges, Jackson said Frenchko behaves “like an idiot.” He also implied that she does not work.

Jackson was responding to an earlier email Frenchko had sent to countywide workers apologizing for what she referred to as “Richard Jackson’s oversight” regarding giving employees a day off for the newly implemented Juneteenth federal holiday.

Indeed, sometimes supervisors and employees do not see eye to eye. There can be no room, however, for such blatant disrespect, particularly in public settings. All disagreements must be handled respectfully.

We previously have used this space to criticize Frenchko for her approach to employees, calling on her to treat employees with respect, even when they disagree.

Let us be clear — we stand by that statement. Still, it goes both ways.

This is not about taking sides. This is about respect for authority and doing what is right.

Jackson’s harsh criticisms of Frenchko — both written and spoken at public meetings — are inappropriate and clear examples of insubordination. They are unconscionable, set a poor example for county workers and are an embarrassment to Trumbull County.

The comments are cancerous and cannot be undone. That’s why we see no other way to handle them but for Jackson’s termination.

We call on Jackson to resign his county post as Trumbull County human resources director effective immediately. If he refuses to do that, all three Trumbull County commissioners must do the right thing, set an example and put an end to this situation by terminating his employment immediately.

editorial@vindy.com