Management Human Resources
Resume:
SANDRA L. PEARLMAN
**** *****'s Mill Road, S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30315
*********@***.***
Atlanta Peach Movers, Atlanta, GA
Business Development Specialist
July 2014 to October 2014
Developed marketing materials for residential and commercial relocations, including brochures, pamphlets and other promotional materials.
Prepared responses to commercial requests for proposals and identified business opportunities through Internet monitoring, review of local business publications, and direct email and/or telephone contact.
Monitored, assigned and tracked results of Internet-generated residential sales leads. Responsible for setting up on-site move estimates for larger sized residential moves and provided customer service support before, during and after move, i.e., handled and resolved customer concerns.
Drafted APM's Driver Safety Manual; revised company employee handbook; developed driver/mover job descriptions; and developed incentive programs for employees.
Assisted management with the development and implementation of consistent policies, e.g., sales follow-up, hiring practices, safety, commercial work orders, among others.
NCR Corporation, Duluth, GA
Chief Labor & Employment Counsel
July 2010 to April 2012
Handled all labor and employment-related legal issues for 30,000 employee global operation; acted as company’s chief labor relations officer, and lead U.S. employee relations team.
Worked with HR Departments (compensation and benefits, organizational development and training, business unit HR staff, HR Services/HRIS) to develop appropriate policies and strategies related to relevant HR issues including personnel recordkeeping, background checks, wage & hour compliance, EEO/affirmative action, non-compete issues.
Managed and negotiated all company collective bargaining agreements and work council arrangements including NY Teamsters CBA; worker contracts in India, Chile and Brazil; Australian Enterprise Agreements.
Handled employment issues across the globe, most recently in Japan, New Zealand, France, Italy, Brazil, Singapore and China, typically involving either termination/redundancy, non-compete or misconduct issues.
Redesigned corporate internal dispute resolution program; represented company at related mediations and managed related arbitrations. Also responded to administrative charges and government audits/investigations (DOL/OFCCP); managed outside counsel handling wage and hour, EEO and non-compete litigation.
Worked with VP of Ethics & Compliance to adjudicate conflict of interest and misconduct issues.
The ServiceMaster Company, Memphis, TN
Vice President/Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment
April 2007 to April 2010
Vice President/Associate General Counsel, Ethics and Compliance
June 2008 to May 2009
Managed consolidated Labor & Employment Legal Department (advice/counsel and litigation management functions) for 32,000-employee multi-division company (Terminix, TruGreen, ChemLawn, American Home Shield, Merry Maids) with locations in 48 states, Canada and Mexico. Advised senior management regarding best practices and risk management related to HR and employment law issues.
o Philosophy was to develop relationships with all business partners and get to know their businesses so that legal advice could be structured in accordance with and fit business needs.
o Focus was on doing the “right thing” for the company, not just the legal answer.
Responsible for $3 million Labor & Employment Department budget.
o Initial budget was $5 million.
o Reduced outside legal spend by over 30%.
o Direct reports included two Senior Counsel and three paralegals.
Managed and oversaw all employment/labor-related litigation and administrative proceedings. Managed, directed, and successfully resolved class action wage and hour lawsuits, cumulatively involving over 25,000 putative class members, $100 million in exposure, and pending in California and nationwide.
o Reduced case/matter load by 50%, primarily by training HR staff on how to conduct effective and thorough investigations, early issue identification and resolution, more “hands-on” in-house handling of matters, and intervention through legal advice and education.
Negotiated consent decrees and conciliation agreements with various government agencies to resolve pending matters related to EEO, wage and hour, and immigration issues.
Developed guidelines and parameters for engaging and managing outside counsel and for managing litigation budgets and settlements.
Worked with Government Affairs staff and lobbyists to influence employment-related legislation (i.e., EFCA); attended meetings with local congressmen, senators and other government representatives to address issues.
Designed and implemented internal alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process for addressing employee complaints/concerns to minimize outside involvement. Rolled out January 2009.
Recommended and garnered executive support for “zero-tolerance” culture/communication directed at eliminating inappropriate workplace conduct, particularly racial and sexual harassment.
Designed and implemented substantive wage and hour compliance plan to eliminate compliance deficiencies, many of which led to class action activity/exposure.
Advised senior management regarding corporate campaign issues and strategy related to SEIU targeting of company and private equity owners (Clayton Dublier & Rice).
o Developed program for training HR, communications and operations staff on how to respond to potential union activity.
o Assembled “SWAT” teams to address union campaigns and successfully managed several union campaigns (resulting in “no” votes.
Designed, developed and delivered corporate-wide training programs for management and HR on issues including wage and hour compliance; conducting effective and thorough investigations; union/corporate campaign awareness and response; and recordkeeping.
Worked with Corporate Communications to ensure that appropriate public comments/responses related to employment-related matters are issued.
Designed, established and applied reduction-in-force guidelines/processes, including severance plan.
Assisted with development and defense of affirmative action plans.
Advised regarding the adoption of new contracts software, electronic billing systems, and case management/tracking system.
Member of the ServiceMaster Benefits Committee; advised on plan designs, development and impact; negotiated health and welfare benefit and administration contracts.
Member, Corporate Diversity Council and Member, Corporate Diversity Steering Committee.
As interim VP, Ethics and Compliance:
o Designed and administered corporate-wide risk assessment and developed and implemented action plans for addressing identified risks.
o Developed and implemented compliance program for eliminating wage & hour-related risks.
o Designed and delivered “substantial authority personnel” training and financial compliance certification training.
o Assisted with developing corporate-wide ethics and compliance training.
o Revised the corporate Code of Conduct.
o Managed corporate ethics “hotline” and conducted investigations related to conflicts of interest and fraud.
Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Instructor
November 2005 to April 2007
Designed and delivered HR-related courses to participants in RWU’s professional certificate HR program.
Citizens Financial Group/Citizens Bank/Charter One Bank, Providence, RI
Vice President/Counsel for Human Resources
August 2002 to July 2006
Lead employment counsel for 27,000-employee financial services company with employees in 46 states. Advised and counseled on litigation strategy, federal and state wage laws, EEO, affirmative action, immigration and expatriate issues, compensation, benefits, NLRA/union avoidance, ADA, FMLA, FCRA, FLSA, OSHA, restrictive covenants, and general contract issues.
Managed and oversaw all employment/labor-related litigation and administrative proceedings, including state and federal lawsuits, NLRB, DOL and OSHA investigations, state and local agency investigations and proceedings (e.g., state human rights commissions and departments of labor).
§ Managed and supervised staff of legal and compliance professionals; developed and managed all budgets related to HR legal, compliance and risk management matters; negotiated fee arrangements with outside vendors and counsel; developed and oversaw outside counsel guidelines.
§ Worked with executive leadership to develop new employment-related policies and processes to ensure legal compliance.
§ Designed and developed corporate-wide training programs for management and HR on many issues including employee privacy/FCRA/background investigations; FMLA/ADA/STD/Workers’ Compensation interaction; affirmative action compliance (including plan development); I-9 and immigration issues; union avoidance, union organizing and collective bargaining; OSHA compliance; record keeping; and wage and hour issues.
§ Assisted with designing corporate Ethics function; served as member of the corporate Ethics Committee and designated reviewer of Ethics Hotline complaints.
§ Served as Human Resources Department’s Compliance Officer and Risk Manager, providing oversight and guidance on all employment-related compliance issues.
§ Worked with senior management to address new legal requirements such as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley; developed appropriate policies, processes and documentation.
§ Conducted acquisition-related activities, including initial due diligence and subsequent conversion and integration of employees, including RIF and severance issues.
§ Assisted Compensation/Benefits Department to develop and revise new benefit and incentive plans and to initiate appropriate processes and procedures for analysis of corporate compensation system.
§ Provided advice on remaining union-free and designed/implemented corporate campaign and training program to address organizing attempts.
§ Established and chaired corporate Safety & Health Committee responsible for designing and implementing fire safety and evacuation plans, facilities inspections, robbery training, as well as OSHA/right-to-know-related training such as ergonomics and hazard communication.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD
Associate Counsel, Labor & Employment Law
December 2001 to August 2002
Provided advice and counsel to 125,000-employee defense contractor on EEO, affirmative action, diversity, Drug-Free Workplace, immigration, Rehabilitation Act §508, compensation, benefits, collective bargaining issues, severance/confidentiality/non-compete agreements, FMLA, FLSA, and expatriate issues.
Managed and defended government audits, primarily DOL wage/hour and OFCCP compliance reviews.
Designed and developed corporate-wide program for affirmative action compliance and for responding to OFCCP compliance evaluations; provided training on that program.
Developed and designed process for standardizing corporate response to EEO charges (EEOC and state/local agencies); provide training to HR professionals.
Consulted with senior HR executives to develop policies for recruiting and retaining talented employees, as well as increasing workforce diversity.
Winston & Strawn, Washington, DC
Partner/Employment Relations Attorney, specializing in Human Resources Consulting
January 1995 to December 2001
Advised on the full scope of employment and labor laws, including EEO, affirmative action, diversity, contract negotiations, employee benefits, compensation/wage and hour issues, hiring, termination, retention, performance management and expatriate issues.
Developed/implemented proactive and preventative HR strategies, training programs, diversity and work environment initiatives, compensation structures and audits, complaint procedures, performance management, recruitment and retention.
Developed, wrote, and implemented employment-related policies and procedures.
Investigated, responded to and defended against employment-related complaints/charges/grievances internally, via mediation and arbitration, and in conjunction with federal and local agency investigations and litigation, such as the EEOC, state EEO agencies, DOL, OFCCP, NLRB, IRS and INS, as well as before local and federal courts.
Advised government contractors regarding compliance issues, including affirmative action requirements, federal agency audit guidelines, security clearances, RFPs, Davis-Bacon and other FARs issues.
Designed and implemented corporate campaigns to counter union-organizing attempts; negotiate collective bargaining agreements and counsel clients through various union-related activities, e.g., boycotts, lockouts, strikes and unfair labor practice allegations.
Advised on pre- and post-merger/acquisition issues; conduct due diligence reviews.
International experience includes set-up and staffing of international offices (Asia and Europe), designing expatriate employment packages (Asia, Europe and South America), developing, interpreting and implementing local personnel-related regulations/practices, recruiting in-country staff; assist with drafting South Africa’s post-apartheid EEO laws.
Handled immigration matters including non-immigrant visas and permanent resident applications. Also handled pro bono political asylum applications, particularly related to preventing the deportation of women to countries practicing female excision.
Spoke and provided training on EEO, harassment, diversity, hiring, termination, affirmative action, policies and procedures, recruiting, retention, ADA, FMLA, and other topics.
Epstein Becker & Green, Washington, DC
Employment Relations Attorney, June 1991 to January 1995
Counseled employers regarding equal employment, labor relations, employee benefits, wage and hour issues, and other employment-related matters.
EDUCATION
The Washington College of Law at the American University, Washington, DC
Awarded J.D., May 1989.
The School of International Service at the American University, Washington, DC
Awarded M.A., Soviet Studies and International Affairs, August 1991.
Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
Awarded B.S., Business Administration/Criminal Justice, May 1987.
PUBLICATIONS
Contributor, Warren, Gorham & Lamont Guide to HR Policies and Procedures Manuals.
Contributor, Prentice-Hall, Disability Law Reporter.
Author, Winston & Strawn Client Briefings and newsletters: OFCCP and affirmative action-related issues, other state and federal employment laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Family & Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, workplace harassment and investigations, among other topics.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaker, Memphis Bar Association Annual Conference, May 2009, ER, EFCA and IDR: Important Employer Alphabet Soup
Speaker, Mid-South Compensation Professionals Annual Conference, September 2007, Comp. Professionals’ Important Role in Wage & Hour Compliance
Panelist, Providence Business Journal Summer 2003 Conference, New HIPAA Requirements and Regulations
Moderator, National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) August 2001 Conference, Current Issues in OFCCP Enforcement and Affirmative Action
Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association, Section on Labor & Employment Law
Member, Society for Human Resource Management
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