DEMI ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Upper Marlboro,MD
Summary
Law degree in employment and labor law, certifications in human resources, EEO and managing private & public organizations with 20+years of ER/LR/HR experience. Tireless strategic thinker, collaborator, negotiator, and dynamic employee and labor relations professional with proven strategic, interpersonal and tactical skills. Instrumental in developing and implementing solutions to critical employee and labor relations issues that encourage employee engagement and positive relationships that advance core business objectives while maximizing employee performance and profit. Adept at training managers to improve employee relations, increase understanding of legal requirements and effectively motivate employees and strengthen relationships at all levels. Articulate, inspiring and hands-on leader with strengths in program management, process improvement and data analytics. Forward-thinking, results-driven and focused on facilitating relationships and collaboration between diverse employees and departments in order to accomplish common goals.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Employee & Labor Relations Manager
Private Employer
01.2023 - Current
- Partner with corporate officers on sensitive employee relations matters, including but not limited to: union grievance & arbitration procedures, performance issues and disciplinary actions
- Partner with outside legal counsel during union contract negotiations
- Manage the investigative process related to any alleged breach of company rules, regulations and/or protocols
- Develop and deliver management training programs designed to advance management HR skills including, but not limited to: Performance issues (PIPs), ADA, FMLA, HIPPAA leave compliance
- Review & approve all adverse employment actions for approval
- Find win-win solutions to problems.
- Resolved conflicts between employees and management through skillful mediation and negotiation techniques.
- Increased employee satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and effectively.
- Conducted thorough investigations into workplace complaints, ensuring fair resolutions for all parties involved.
- Developed training materials to educate supervisors on best practices in labor relations management.
- Collaborated with legal counsel during arbitration hearings, protecting company interests while maintaining a fair process for employees.
- Reduced instances of labor disputes by fostering open dialogue between management and staff members.
- Analyzed trends in employment law, ensuring company compliance with relevant federal, state, and local regulations.
- Managed grievance processes professionally, minimizing disruptions to daily operations while resolving issues efficiently.
- Provided expert guidance to senior leaders on labor relations matters, influencing key decisions that impacted overall business strategy.
- Established strong relationships with union representatives, promoting collaboration towards mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Advised department managers regarding disciplinary actions or terminations when necessary, providing support throughout the entire process to minimize legal risks.
- Devised robust training programs to strengthen investigatory skills, legal understanding, and motivational strategies.
- Mediated discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
- Completed in-depth investigations into issues pertaining to discipline and grievance management and recommended strategies.
- Provided expertise on labor and employment laws to help employers make more effective decisions.
Senior Principal Investigator
Cherokee Nation Businesses
11.2019 - 10.2023
- On-call contracted special outside investigator
- Conduct extensive fact-finding into alleged employee misconduct via administrative HR and EEO investigations for federal agencies
- Provide counseling, recommendations and expertise to improve employee performance including management strategies for positive employee behavioral changes for retention as well as progressive discipline leading to non-litigated discharge
- Create and implement specialized targeted training programs
- Analyze and interpret laws, regulations, policies and then provide guidance to management.
HR/Employee/Labor Relations Consultant
Platinum Concierge Consulting LLC
01.2018 - 12.2022
- Strategic business partner providing: ER/LR/HR consulting and systems design for all human capital related initiatives to small businesses
- Conduct seminars in the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and act as a special investigator of complex internal investigations: alleged discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace violence incidents
- Work primarily with Executive Leadership Team members
- Determine the efficiencies and/or deficiencies in existing policies and procedures, internal and administrative controls, reporting systems and business processes of the contracted business and design cost-effective solutions to achieve desired results
- Train line managers and executive teams in the proper application of applicable federal and state laws including, but not limited to: ADA, FMLA, FLSA, OSHA, EEO/AA Reporting, Title VII, HIPAA
- Provide formal training in Legal Dispute Avoidance, proper application of various Performance Appraisal Systems, Employee Relations and Compensation.
Executive Director – HR/Employee/Labor Relations
NECA
06.2016 - 01.2018
- Executive Director responsible for Management Association’s labor relations services on behalf of multi-employer bargaining member firms including contract negotiations, resolving grievances and acting as an advisor in all HR related matters for 8,000 worker population
- Participate in the management of Taft-Hartley employee benefit plans
- Oversee financial controls, educational programs, association meetings and coordinating government affairs efforts at the state level in three jurisdictions
- Act as Secretary to Board of Directors
- Three direct reports.
Employee/Labor Relations/Compliance Manager
DC Water
06.2015 - 07.2016
- Lead negotiator utilizing a Master Compensation Agreement covering five bargaining units
- Represented agency in all administrative proceedings including, but not limited to: ULPs, grievance proceedings, Impasses, arbitrations and other administrative hearings
- Analyzed union proposals and consulted with senior leadership to determine ramifications and impact
- Provided advice at all organizational levels in the expedient and proper resolution of complaints and/or grievances, appropriate corrective actions and correct interpretation of Human Capital Management policies for union and non-union employees
- Investigated and resolved highly sensitive employee relations issues in coordination with the Office of the General Counsel
- Developed employee and labor relations training programs that empowered managers in the proper management and execution of initiatives within a highly unionized workforce
- Directed all employee related compliance programs: FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, Drug Free Workforce
- Six direct reports.
Senior Labor Relations Officer
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro)
04.2004 - 06.2015
- Review/analyze highly sensitive and confidential information in providing complex technical/professional Labor Relations research and investigative advice/action in accordance with 5 union contracts covering all areas of the HR arena, including but not limited to cases involving: Employee/Labor Relations, Classification and Compensation, Recruiting, Selection and Promotion, Drug and Alcohol Testing, Mandatory EAP Attendance, Discharge and Re-entry
- Negotiate, write and interpret union contract language as applied to specific employee grievances and craft written responses consistent with Authority past practices or cases of first impression
- Consult and advise Managers in pre-disciplinary matters including, but not limited to, terminations
- Conduct investigations and interviews as required for Arbitration preparation
- Represent the Authority as an Advocate/Partisan Arbitrator in tripartite binding arbitration hearings presided over by Neutral Arbitrators
- Craft and submit post-hearing legal briefs as closing arguments to Neutral Arbitrators
- Craft and present oral/written reports/recommendations involving complex and difficult HR/Labor Relations issues to the Director
- Created comprehensive training seminars to new and senior supervisors
- Created Labor Relations Academy
- Chief negotiator of CBAs and member of FOP & L2 CBA negotiation teams
- Formulated and administered department operating budget.
Education
J.D. - Employment & Labor Law
Howard University School of Law
Washington, DCB.A. - Double Major: Psychology And Education
State University of New York
New Paltz, NYSkills
- Grievance Handling
- Employee Relations
- Negotiation Expertise
- Labor Law Knowledge
Certification
- SPHR, 2007, Society for Human Resource Management (HRCI), Alexandria, VA
- CPM, 2010, George Washington University & Council of Governments, Washington, DC
- EEO, 2015, EEOC Training Institute, Washington, DC
Timeline
Senior Employee & Labor Relations Manager
Private Employer
01.2023 - Current
Senior Principal Investigator
Cherokee Nation Businesses
11.2019 - 10.2023
HR/Employee/Labor Relations Consultant
Platinum Concierge Consulting LLC
01.2018 - 12.2022
Executive Director – HR/Employee/Labor Relations
NECA
06.2016 - 01.2018
Employee/Labor Relations/Compliance Manager
DC Water
06.2015 - 07.2016
Senior Labor Relations Officer
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro)
04.2004 - 06.2015
J.D. - Employment & Labor Law
Howard University School of Law
B.A. - Double Major: Psychology And Education
State University of New York
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