ASHLEY G. WANG
Katy
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Employee Relations Branch Chief (GS-0201-14)
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State
Houston
02.2023 - Current
- As the Employee Relations Branch Chief, I am directly responsible for several critical HR programs for the domestic United States including misconduct and performance based actions, performance management, awards, leave, telework and remote work, premium pay, reasonable accommodations, mediation and liaison for the directorate in all EEOC matters.
- Directly supervise up to 12 people located throughout the domestic united states.
- Serve as the agency's resolving official in third party litigation matters including EEOC mediation, settlement talks, and Merit Systems Protection Board issues.
- Responsible for ensuring all programs are run in accordance with applicable regulation, law and policy.
- Cultivated strong relationships with partner offices to position Consular Affairs in the best possible position in all HR matters.
- Utilize my knowledge as a certified mediator in conflict resolution as well as investigations to conduct site visits at Passport Agencies where there are on going issues and/or concerns.
- Complete investigatory meetings, create and conduct training needed and provide out briefs on recommendations for changes and potential follow on actions.
- Responsible for presenting at nationwide meetings related to programs in my branch to share policy updates, lessons learned, training, etc.
Employee Relations Liaison (GS-0201-13)
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State
Houston
07.2015 - 02.2023
- As a regional liaison, I have consistently and independently advised managers across CA on a wide variety of employee relations issues including performance issues, conduct and leave issues, labor relations, awards, within grade increases and denials, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) issues related to pay, telework and remote work agreements, performance management, etc.
- Review potential conduct issues to determine appropriate charge and penalty by evaluating documents provided, case law research, and paste agency actions.
- Draft, review and clear grievance responses at all steps of the process, assist in arbitration and ULP hearing prep through document review and discovery, testimony, or research.
- Respond to formal information requests from the Union.
- I serve as a technical reviewer for performance evaluations, review and clear all Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) approvals and denials drafted by the other team members, mentor and train new Employee Relations Team members.
- Develop and conduct training in formal and informal sessions on a wide variety of Employee Relations topics such as Difficult Conversations, FLSA, Misconduct, Union Regulations, Leave, Reasonable Accommodations (DRAD), and Workers Compensation.
- Review requests for appropriate action and determine the appropriate next steps as well as initial drafting of all proposal and decision documents.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in third party forums such as arbitration, EEO hearings/discovery, and MSPB hearings.
- While advising on performance-based issues, coordinate with DRAD, and all other necessary offices to ensure proper procedures are followed.
- I have worked on implementing policy and procedure changes for the Bureau on matters such as COVID-19 leave, testing requirement notifications, MAT scoring and notices, long term leave without pay program and more.
- Regularly served as Acting Branch Chief in the absence of my supervisor, with high praise.
- While Acting, regularly addressed awards and workers comp questions and issues throughout the Bureau.
- As a trained mediator, I have also worked with supervisors across CA to resolve management team conflicts through informal mediation.
- Throughout my time on the team, I have consistently received Outstanding ratings as well as Franklin and Superior Honor Awards.
Team Lead, Employee Relations (GS-0201-14)
Office of Workforce Management, Library of Congress
Washington
05.2010 - 07.2015
- As the Team Leader, I was responsible for improving the ER Team's services, increasing productivity and effectiveness, and training and mentoring all team members.
- Responsible for interpreting employee relations policies and procedures for Library management and advising management on appropriate responses to employee conduct or performance problems, including adverse or disciplinary actions, enforced leave, separations, leave issues etc.
- Advised on sensitive, unique, complex, high level conduct and performance problems and served as the subject matter expert and person called upon to respond to these for the Library.
- Used initiative and creativity in developing new approaches to resolve difficult, complex, or contentious problems.
- Coordinated with the Office of General Counsel, Office of Inspector General, Health Services Office and other Library offices to ensure all actions were defensible and supported by all parties involved.
- Provided expert testimony in all third party hearings resulting from an employee relations issue to include arbitrations, adverse actions appeals, and EEO investigations.
- Authored, co-authored, and edited Library policies on new supervisory probationary period, administrative leave, enforced leave and indefinite suspension, probationary periods for new employees, AWOL, and performance management for supervisors and non-bargaining unit nonsupervisory GS-15s and below.
- Served as management's chief negotiator on the new enforced leave Library regulation with the Library's three collective bargaining Unions and served on the negotiation team for several other policies or midterm bargaining sessions related to employee relations issues.
- Created and maintained standard operating procedures and guidance documents for management.
- Managed the Library's employee relations program to include maintenance of records and data documenting Library actions, evaluation of and response to requests for information from Library officials, third party adjudicators, or outside counsel and representatives.
- Provided general updates on matters of concern or program management to the Office Director, the Director of HRS, or other Library officials.
- Provided and ensured customer service from team members when providing employee relations advice and/or guidance.
- Developed and provided training to the Library's managers and supervisors on all employee relations topics.
- As administrator of the ER Team, addressed poor performance of an Employee Relations Specialist, served on several vacancy selection panels, co-authored performance requirements and plans, and provided feedback into all performance appraisals of the Specialists on my team.
- Throughout my time in the Team Lead position at the Library, I received Outstanding ratings on all yearly and midyear evaluations, and commensurate cash awards.
Acting Director, Office of Workforce Management (GS-0201-15)
Library of Congress
Washington
12.2011 - 03.2012
- Responsible for successfully managing the Library's employee and labor relations programs while dealing with personnel shortages throughout the office.
- Ensured successful implementation and execution of several bargaining sessions, grievance decisions, ULP filings, and high-level employee relations matters while dealing with several personnel issues including: completing mid-year performance evaluations for the entire staff, the selection and training of a new employee, the retirement of another, two extended leaves of absence by other staff, and one retirement within the office.
- I successfully maintained the office's level of customer service and satisfaction by key stake holders in spite of personnel shortages.
- Worked to build and maintain a collegial and collaborative relationship with Union officials as well as other internal stakeholders throughout the Library.
Designated Management Official (YA-0343-02)
402d Maintenance Wing
Robins AFB
09.2008 - 05.2010
- Served as the sole point of contact for the organization in all employee relations, labor relations, and EEO matters.
- I was responsible for resolving all labor conflicts for the organization and representing the Director in all forums related to labor relations, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and employee relations issues.
- Acted as first step in the agency's negotiated grievance procedure and as such, was required to meet with all grievants and their representatives to gather all the facts before writing and issuing step one decisions.
- In addition, the agency had an informal unfair labor practice (ULP) agreement and as a result of that, I was responsible for step one handling of filed ULPs.
- Responsible for meeting with the necessary parties to gain understanding of the alleged unfair labor practice in question and attempt to resolve or determine the extent to which the agency was willing to defend the ULP.
- Further, handled contract violation claims for the organization.
- As the Director's primary labor representative, responsible for fielding and handling all meetings and conversations with Union representatives, working collaboratively with others to establish and maintain effective partnerships internal and external to the organization, and serving as the contact for Alternative Dispute Resolution mediations.
- Responsible for gathering all the facts related to an EEO complaint, drafting management's response, and preparing members of management for their investigative interviews or possible settlement discussions with the EEO office.
- In my capacity as a Designated Management Official, I received high performance ratings in addition to being awarded the Exemplary Civilian Service Award, an extremely rare and very prestigious award, in part for my 85% resolution rate for filed grievances on an installation with a very adversarial labor relationship and where my counterparts had a 30-40% resolution rate.
- In addition to my role as a Designated Management Official, I was a certified mediator during this time period for the Installation's Alternative Dispute Resolution program.
- In that role, I mediated many complaints related to a wide variety of issues including performance ratings, assignments of work, overtime, swing shift assignments, etc.
Human Resources Specialist (YA-0201-02)
Civilian Personnel, Workforce Effectiveness Division
Robins AFB
05.2004 - 09.2008
- Responsible for planning, developing, and carrying out the full range of employee relations and management advisory services for assigned organizations.
- Independently served as one of two HR focal points for the discipline and adverse actions program, which covered approximately 14,000 civilians.
- Served as discipline program co-lead and team member.
- Provided appropriate assistance and advice to other team members while co-leading the team to meet Center strategic and alignment timeline goals.
- Provided consultation and assistance on complex and often controversial conduct-related issues.
- Prepared and processed disciplinary, non-disciplinary, and performance-based actions while training other members on the team to properly perform and carry out the same work.
- Responsible for ensuring all actions were processed in accordance with established directives and timelines, as well as responding to all third party inquiries.
- Prepared and provided briefings and training to managers and supervisors across the Installation.
- Provided guidance that supported organization missions on a wide range of ER issues including: awards, performance management, leave, reassignments and details and proper coding of Standard Form 50s.
- Represented the agency and served as a technical advisor in third party proceedings, e.g., Merit Systems Protection Board appeals, EEOC and unemployment hearings, arbitrations, contract negotiations, etc.
- Reviewed/processed various personnel requests (PARs).
- Responsible for responding to EEOC, congressional inquiries, or other high-level inquiries, interpreting laws, regulations, rules, local policies, and negotiated union contracts for management and employees as requested.
- During my tenure as an Employee Relations Specialist, I served on one LEAN event and one process improvement event; the results of the events included: eliminated wasted steps in HR processes, shortened the amount of time to process the actions under review and made them as efficient as possible.
- I received high appraisal ratings and several time off and cash awards throughout my time as an Employee Relations Specialist as a result of my exemplary performance in the position.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Georgia College And State University
Milledgeville, GA05.2009
Bachelor of Science - Business And Information Technology
Middle Georgia State University(Formally Known As
Macon, GA05.2005
Associate of Science -
Macon State College (Formally known as Macon State
Macon, GA12.2004
Basic Mediation Skills with Clinical Practicum -
The Justice Center of Atlanta
Basic Employee Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Adverse and Performance Based Actions -
USDA Graduate School
Negotiating Labor Agreements -
USDA Graduate School
Basic Labor Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Federal Labor Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Advanced Employee Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Skills
- Conflict resolution
- Team leadership
- Training development
- Employee monitoring
- Multi-tasking
- Reliable
Timeline
Employee Relations Branch Chief (GS-0201-14)
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State
02.2023 - Current
Employee Relations Liaison (GS-0201-13)
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State
07.2015 - 02.2023
Acting Director, Office of Workforce Management (GS-0201-15)
Library of Congress
12.2011 - 03.2012
Team Lead, Employee Relations (GS-0201-14)
Office of Workforce Management, Library of Congress
05.2010 - 07.2015
Designated Management Official (YA-0343-02)
402d Maintenance Wing
09.2008 - 05.2010
Human Resources Specialist (YA-0201-02)
Civilian Personnel, Workforce Effectiveness Division
05.2004 - 09.2008
MBA - Business Administration
Georgia College And State University
Bachelor of Science - Business And Information Technology
Middle Georgia State University(Formally Known As
Associate of Science -
Macon State College (Formally known as Macon State
Basic Mediation Skills with Clinical Practicum -
The Justice Center of Atlanta
Basic Employee Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Adverse and Performance Based Actions -
USDA Graduate School
Negotiating Labor Agreements -
USDA Graduate School
Basic Labor Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Federal Labor Relations -
USDA Graduate School
Advanced Employee Relations -
USDA Graduate School
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