Employee Relations Human Resources

Audrey Washington ******.**************@*****.*** LinkedIn: audrey-w-a8278796 510-***-****

Professional Summary

Strategic Human Resources Leader with 10+years of experience driving organizational effectiveness across retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Expert in employee relations, compliance, talent management, and change leadership. Proven ability to align HR strategies with business goals, lead cross-functional initiatives, and implement scalable solutions that improve engagement, retention, and performance. Adept in multi-state labor law, HRIS systems, and data-driven decision-making.

Core Competencies

HR Strategy & Leadership Employee Relations & Investigations Talent Management & Succession Planning Change Management Multi-State Leave Administration (FMLA, ADA, CFRA, PFL) Workers’ Compensation Labor Law Compliance Organizational Design HR Policy Development Diversity, Equity & Inclusion HRIS Systems: Workday, SAP, ADP, BambooHR, Kronos Data Analytics & Reporting Coaching & Development

Professional Experience

Lowe’s – HR Business Partner Advisor

Retail Distribution Management May 2024 – Mar 2025

Advised senior leadership on HR strategy, workforce planning, and organizational design to align talent initiatives with business objectives.

Led complex employee relations investigations, ensuring impartiality, legal compliance, and timely resolution across multi-state operations.

Administered protected leave programs (FMLA, ADA, CFRA, PDL) and workers’ compensation claims, reducing liability and improving return-to-work outcomes.

Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures that enhanced compliance and standardized practices across departments.

Partnered with cross-functional teams to drive change management initiatives, improving employee engagement during organizational transitions.

Utilized HRIS platforms (Workday, SAP, ADP) to manage employee data, generate reports, and inform strategic decision-making.

Top Talent – HR Manager

Retail, Technology & Software Nov 2023 – May 2024

Conducted root-cause analysis of ER trends and used insights to design proactive programs that improved retention and morale.

Served as a trusted advisor to business units, providing guidance on compensation, job leveling, and internal mobility strategies.

Facilitated leadership development programs to build managerial capability and support succession planning.

Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws through regular audits, policy updates, and training initiatives.

Collaborated with legal counsel and risk management teams to mitigate exposure and resolve high-risk employee relations cases.

Led change management, workforce planning, and organizational design initiatives.

Partnered with union representatives to negotiate collective bargaining agreements, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and labor law compliance.

Managed grievance procedures and facilitated resolution meetings between union members and management, reducing escalations and fostering collaboration.

NEOTech Manufacturing – Human Resources Manager

Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing Nov 2021 – Aug 2023

Designed and executed HR strategies that aligned with organizational goals, resulting in improved workforce productivity and reduced turnover.

Partnered with executive leadership to develop talent roadmaps, succession plans, and organizational design initiatives that supported long-term growth.

Led enterprise-wide change management efforts, including restructuring, M&A integration, and culture transformation, ensuring minimal disruption and high engagement.

Advised senior leaders on complex employee relations issues, balancing legal risk with business priorities and cultural impact.

Implemented strategic compensation frameworks, job leveling systems, and internal mobility programs to support talent optimization.

Led cross-functional HR projects involving technology upgrades, policy modernization, and process automation to improve efficiency and compliance.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – HR Business Partner

Healthcare Feb 2020 – Feb 2023

Acted as strategic HR advisor to senior leadership, aligning people strategies with business objectives across union and non-union environments.

Led labor relations initiatives, including union contract negotiations, grievance resolution, and arbitration preparation, ensuring compliance and minimizing disruption.

Partnered with union representatives to foster collaborative labor-management relationships and resolve workplace issues proactively.

Interpreted collective bargaining agreements and advised managers on contract compliance, disciplinary procedures, and performance management.

Facilitated union-related investigations, ensuring neutrality, thorough documentation, and adherence to labor laws and contractual obligations.

Monitored labor relations metrics and trends to inform strategic planning and risk mitigation efforts.

AR Staffing – HR Consultant Manager

Staffing Agency Dec 2016 – Jan 2020

Provided strategic HR consulting to mid-sized and enterprise clients across industries, advising on compliance, employee relations, and workforce planning.

Managed end-to-end workers’ compensation claims, from initial incident reporting through resolution, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

Liaised with insurance carriers, adjusters, and legal teams to coordinate treatment plans, settlements, and return-to-work (RTW) programs.

Developed and implemented workers’ comp tracking systems and reporting tools to monitor claim status, costs, and trends.

Conducted root-cause analysis of workplace injuries and partnered with safety teams to reduce incident rates and improve compliance.

Education

Master of Science in Human Resources Management Trident University, Cypress, CA — Graduated with Honors, 2019

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration DeVry University, Fremont, CA — 2008

Technical Skills

HRIS Platforms: Workday, PeopleSoft, ADP, BambooHR, Paylocity, Paycom, Kronos

Tools: ServiceNow, OSHA & Labor Law Management, EEO-1 Reporting

Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

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