Kendra Worley Thornton Email & Phone Number

Greenville, South Carolina, Us

Scottsdale, Arizona, Us

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Stamford, Ct, Us

•Ensure the effectiveness of existing compliance programs, providing guidance to key leaders by identifying top risk areas, and assisting with development plan to impact change; develop and monitor existing policies to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws, such as wage and hour compliance, state paid sick leave laws and Executive Order implementation.•Collaborate with legal to interpret regulatory compliance requirements and drive compliance-related initiatives and programs, including regulatory reporting, compliance with FCC and OFCCP requirements, external audit support and on-going internal audit initiatives.•Manage the allocation of internal resources to support 40 plus OFCCP, FCC, ICE and state agency audits.•Manage creation of Affirmative Action plans for ≈ 650 locations and evaluate effectiveness of hiring goals, action oriented programs and good faith efforts; ensured effective rollout of the new regulations for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans; partnered with talent acquisition to implement enterprise-wide city representation process to focus on targeted outreach.•Lead Employee Relations Center of Expertise in centralization of the “Open Door” complaint process, including robust investigation tracking system, investigation protocol and documentation; employee relations team viewed as key in high level investigations, including Title VII discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, Code of Business Conduct violations, policy violations and wrongful terminations. •Lead the development of employee relations trend analysis based on "Open Door" activity, including identified problem areas; ensure successful development and deployment of employee relations training; managed direct report on implementation of revised training focused on guidelines for handling workplace concerns.•Selected to participate in leadership programs, including Step Forward for Women Leaders at the Center for Creative Leadership.

Chesapeake, Virginia, Us

•Built the HR Legal Compliance and Audit department to manage the audit function across all lines of business including store operations, store support center (corporate office) and supply chain to drive metrics and reduce enterprise exposure and legal risk; encompassed 7,500 stores and 10 distribution centers. •Led the HR function for the initial California market entry that resulted in quick expansion from 8+ initial stores to 100s with minimal legal activities for the first two years; developed and led steering committee to ensure risk mitigation, including wage and hour laws, hiring documentation, systems and general human resources design.•Directed teams responsible for EEOC, DOL and administrative agency charges and complaints; managed budgets associated with expenses and settlements of charges and complaints.•Partnered with senior store operations leadership on key project design and implementation to ensure compliance; provided leadership, direction and expert consultation to business partners on key initiatives, including interpretation of federal, state and local laws, market entry and other strategic business projects.•Designed a criminal background check committee process, including adjudication matrix and compliance with state laws.•Selected to participate in the Emerging Leader program, the highest leadership program within Family Dollar.•Managed the audit team and the I-9/E-verify compliance team.•Implemented community involvement initiatives; selected and participated in 18-month HR initiatives team, including leadership workshops and school campus renovation project.

Chesapeake, Virginia, Us

•Provided advice and counsel on broad spectrum of HR and general business matters including Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, wage and hour, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and legal matters arising from the employment relationship.•Partnered with senior store operations leadership on key project design and implementation to ensure compliance.•Facilitated performance coaching and personnel matters training related to executives and officers for key personnel.•Counseled HR team on performance coaching, personnel matters and complaints to ensure consistency across the organization to minimize legal liability; trained corporate and field personnel on federal, state and local employment laws.•Provided leadership, direction and expert consultation to business partners on key initiatives, including interpretation of federal, state and local laws, market entry and other strategic business projects.•Managed and audited company compliance with all federal, state and local employment laws•Assisted the legal department with attorney demand letters, reviewed of corporate contracts and decreased outside legal spend.•Developed and managed document repository for human resources policies, procedures and guidelines; key player in the implementation of revised leave of absence policy and related processes. •Technical experience with Oracle, Taleo, Lexis Nexis, Verified Person, Kronos and Authoria.

Charlotte, Nc, Us

• Represented and counseled management in employment related matters, including defending employers against administrative charges and state and federal lawsuits involving Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, wage and hour, retaliation, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and other matters arising out of the employment relationship • Prepared and argued dispositive and discovery-related motions in federal and state court • Deposed witnesses in state and federal lawsuits• Conducted mediations in administrative charges and state and federal lawsuits• Drafted EEOC, NCDOL and SCHAC position statements • Negotiated and drafted employee-related agreements, including employment agreements, separation and release agreements, covenants not to compete, confidentiality agreements and protection of trade secrets and other proprietary information• Advised clients regarding hiring, termination, evaluations, discipline, drug testing procedures, federal and state wage garnishments, tax levies and wage assignments • Prepared and revised employee handbooks and employment policies• Represented and counseled clients regarding e-discovery issues • Prepared and conducted training seminars on employment issues • Served on Parker Poe Q-council and e-discovery committees

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

• Represented and counseled management in employment related matters, including defending employers against administrative charges and state and federal lawsuits involving alleged violations of Title VII, ADEA, ADA and FMLA• Prepared EEOC, NCDOL and SCHAC position statements• Drafted answers, affidavits and discovery requests and responses, briefs and memorandum• Conducted document review and witness interviews• Counseled clients on various employment issues • Prepared and reviewed employment policies and employee handbooks• Prepared and conducted training seminars on employment issues

Clemson, Sc, Us

Riley Fellow, Diversity Leaders Initiative

Doctor Of Law (Jd)

Master'S Degree, Human Resources Development

Bachelor'S Degree, Speech And Communication Studies