Laura M. Thompson

About Laura M. Thompson

As a bilingual Human Resources leader (fluent in Spanish), Laura has held key C-suite facing/servicing HR positions at domestic and multinational firms across various industries including: • Law firms• Cryptocurrency/Blockchain/Web3• Automotive/Consumer Products• Financial Tech & Services• Global Logistics/Transportation• Fashion/Retail• Luxury Consumer Goods• Chemicals• Pharmaceutical/Medical DevicesShe brings forth over 20 years of direct hands-on and strategic HR knowledge having learned HR from the ground up at the start of her career at Dow Jones. Since then, Laura has held various leadership positions and worked side by side with company CEOs, Presidents, CFOs, global COOs and other senior leaders to strengthen the HR function at the respective companies and implement best in class strategies to position the businesses for further growth. Laura holds:• Masters in Labor and Employment Relations from Rutgers University (3.62 GPA)• Bachelor\'s in Business Administration from Rider University (Magna Cum Laude graduate)Laura has been PHR certified by HRCI since 2009 and remains in good standingHer areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:• HR startups• HR compliance• Labor/employee relations• Conflict resolution• Employment law• Full cycle recruiting• Disciplinary actions• EEOC charges• FMLA• Benefits administration• Immigration compliance • HR systems needs evaluation and implementationSelected Accomplishments:• Building HR departments, establishing process workflows and HR technology to ensure HR function operates accurately and efficiently• Streamlining/process improvement for recruiting and on-boarding of new talent, resulting in hiring over 71 employees in a 3 month window• Successfully defending EEOC charges and other employment litigation• Identification/resolution non-compliance of I-9 regulations• Company-wide needs analysis and implementation of HR technology including payroll, time/attendance and recruiting system

Experience

1. Sr HR Compliance Manager

   Ropes & Gray LLP

   Jan 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Founded in 1865 by two Harvard graduates, employing more than 1,500 attorneys located in 15 offices in the world’s leading centers of finance, business, technology and government, Ropes & Gray provides clients with the highest quality legal advice wherever their business and legal needs may arise. 2022 Ropes and Gray named “Law Firm of the Year” by The American LawyerOverviewEnsure all HR policies and accompanying systems and processes comply with federal, state and local US government regulations. Project manage all necessary compliance initiatives and will act as a trusted advisor to firm leadership and internal teams, helping the firm respond to new regulations by providing advice and training to responsible HR and administrative teams.• Subject matter expert on all firm Human Resources compliance policies, procedures and programs. Partner with Office of the General Counsel to produce interpretations of findings as well as recommendations on changes to existing policies and firm systems.• Partner with OGC, IT, Information Security, HRIS, HR and other relevant teams on deliverables related to payroll and time entry (ensure accurate time entry rules and payroll calculations, including meal waivers and PTO balances), EEO reporting, onboarding and introduction of new technology platforms; proactively notify relevant stakeholders about changes and ensure proactive compliance.• Report to HR leadership on compliance status, proposed improvements, and impending legislative changes. Provide reports that measure improvements as needed.• Oversee compliance with data privacy regulations (CCPA, GDPR, and other emerging laws)• Project manage annual Human Resources policy review• Update policies as necessary to reflect changes in legal requirements and mitigate compliance risks.• Additional areas of responsibility: state leave laws, insurance entitlements, monthly pay, personnel file rules, etc.• Emerging compliance issues: AI, data privacy in Asia

Education

• Rutgers University

  Masters, Labor and Employment Relations

  2007 — 2011

• Rider University

  Bachelors in Business Administration, HR Management major

  2000 — 2005

Skills

• Vendor Management
• Recruiting
• Fmla
• Interviews
• New Hire Orientations
• Adp Payroll
• Exit Interviews
• Hris
• HR Policies
• I-9 Compliance
• Leadership
• Policy
• Benefits Administration
• Eeo
• Change Management
• Taleo
• Management
• Team Building
• Human Resources
• Onboarding
• Employee Benefits
• Organizational Structure
• Sdlc
• Performance Management
• Employee Training
• Talent Acquisition
• Open Enrollment
• HR Consulting
• Organizational Development
• Employee Relations
• Talent Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Process Improvement
• Negotiation
• Payroll
• Spanish
• Labor Relations
• Employment Law
• Workforce Planning
• Workplace Safety