Collaborative HR Solutions
Providing small businesses with essential structural support and individuals with expert career advice.
For Employers
For Employees
Workplace questions don't always have clear answers. Whether you're navigating a performance concern, termination, leave request, workplace conflict, or simply wondering what your options are, Side Step HR provides practical, confidential guidance from an experienced HR leader. I'm not your company's HR. I'm yours.
"I reached out to Melanie during a particularly challenging employment situation.
Coming from the UK, I wasn’t well-versed in Massachusetts employment laws or what I was entitled to after my employment ended.
Melanie guided me through understanding my rights concerning final wages and severance while also helping me strategically manage the situation. She advised me to keep everything documented and assisted in crafting my responses to maintain a clear record of all communications.
When faced with an NDA I was hesitant to sign, Melanie clarified what was being asked of me and guided me on how to respond without escalating tensions unnecessarily.
Her support empowered me to communicate confidently and assert my position. As a result, I successfully obtained the back pay I was owed, additional severance, and opted not to sign the NDA.
Melanie displayed a wealth of knowledge, was straightforward, and practical. She focused on helping me understand my options rather than imposing what she thought I should do.
Having someone with real HR expertise to lean on made a tremendous difference." — Alice L. Massachusetts
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"I wholeheartedly recommend Melanie Gillis and Side Step HR to anyone who would benefit from practical, solutions-focused workplace guidance and support.
Her expertise and talent for human resources in both theory and practice will be clear from your first consultation with Melanie, as will the results she can achieve for you as a client.
She has a unique ability to quickly identify and understand the motivations and objectives of all stakeholders in any given business process or scenario—an extremely useful skill developed over several years of Director- and Executive-level leadership in HR across industries.
She uses this understanding to help realistically map out the pathways and options available to you, as well as challenges to consider, in order to achieve your desired outcome or objective.
In addition to sharp critical thinking and extensive advisory knowledge, Melanie also has the human skills crucial to this work: she is a kind, emotionally intelligent, and genuinely trustworthy professional. When listening through a challenge, she shows genuine care, respect, and awareness of the complicated factors at play. Having known Melanie for several years and trusted her as an advisor in my own career in Oregon, I can honestly say that Melanie is someone you want in your corner.
Speaking as a client, I’m thrilled to recommend her – whether you are an employee or an employer, you will benefit from working with Melanie." — Reid R. Portland, OR
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Client Testimonials
Meet Melanie
Melanie Gillis is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Side Step HR.
With more than 20 years of management experience and over a decade in progressive HR leadership roles, she has helped organizations build strong workplaces through practical HR solutions, employee relations expertise, compliance guidance, leadership development, and organizational growth.
Throughout her career, Melanie has partnered with employees, managers, and executive teams across nonprofit, manufacturing, startup, and multi-state organizations. She has built HR functions from the ground up, implemented HR technology systems, led workplace investigations, developed training programs, and created scalable people processes that support both employees and business goals.
Melanie founded Side Step HR because she believes workplace challenges are easier to navigate when people have access to honest, practical guidance. Whether helping an employee understand their options or supporting an employer through a complex people issue, her approach is grounded in professionalism, empathy, common sense, and real-world experience.
At Side Step HR, the goal is simple: help employers build stronger workplaces and help employees move forward with confidence.
When she's not working, Melanie enjoys live music, spending time with her loved ones, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox and The New England Patriots.
Get in Touch
Ready to elevate your HR strategy? Reach out for a tailored consultation or to learn more about our specialized packages.
info@sidestephr.com