Safiya Linley

Human Resources professional with approximately 4 years of dedicated Human Resources leadership experience and more than 15 years of progressive management experience supporting employee relations, leave administration, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation, recruitment, compliance, workforce planning, onboarding, performance management, and employee development. Experienced in administering FMLA, ADA accommodations, return-to-work programs, workers' compensation claims, medical separations, and employee relations matters within both public and private sector environments. Proven ability to review medical documentation, conduct ADA intake interviews, facilitate the interactive process, manage sensitive employee information, maintain personnel records, provide guidance to employees and management, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational requirements.

Recognized for strengthening compliance, improving HR processes, conducting investigations, managing complex employee cases, and delivering exceptional customer service in high-volume environments.

Director, Statewide Employment Services - Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)

(2025-01 - 2026-01)

Directed statewide HR operations supporting approximately 10,000 employees across 24 facilities and operational units throughout Maryland.

• Served as subject matter expert for FMLA administration, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation coordination, return-to-work programs, and medical separations.
• Conducted ADA intake interviews and facilitated the interactive process for employees requesting workplace accommodations.
• Reviewed medical certifications, accommodation requests, fitness-for-duty documentation, and supporting medical records to determine eligibility and appropriate next steps.
• Counseled employees, supervisors, and managers regarding leave rights, accommodation options, workers' compensation processes, return-to-work requirements, and available resources.
• Coordinated workers' compensation matters, occupational injury cases, OSHA reporting activities, and return-to-work efforts in partnership with agency leadership, employees, healthcare providers, and risk management representatives.
• Managed complex employee situations involving overlapping FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, and medical restrictions.
• Oversaw personnel document management processes, including maintenance, review, auditing, and compliance of employee personnel records and HR documentation.
• Maintained confidential leave files, accommodation records, workers' compensation documentation, disciplinary records, and personnel files.
• Interpreted and applied State Personnel and Pensions law, COMAR, FMLA, ADA, agency policy, and HR procedures.
• Ensured compliance with documentation standards, record retention requirements, and confidentiality guidelines.
• Conducted a comprehensive review of more than 200 FMLA cases and identified documentation inconsistencies and compliance concerns.
• Developed and implemented statewide tracking systems for FMLA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation, return-to-work cases, and medical separations.
• Led statewide personnel file reviews and compliance initiatives to improve record accuracy and reduce organizational risk.
• Developed HR tracking tools and standardized processes that strengthened leave administration and compliance oversight.
• Advised management regarding attendance concerns, accommodation requests, disciplinary matters, workplace issues, and employee relations concerns.
• Conducted fact-finding activities and reviewed sensitive employee matters requiring discretion, objectivity, and confidentiality.
• Coordinated with legal, labor relations, risk management, payroll, and benefits stakeholders as needed.
• Utilized Workday to process leave events, personnel actions, retirements, terminations, rehires, reinstatements, and employment-related transactions.
• Maintained detailed employee records and ensured documentation accuracy and compliance.

Executive Team Leader – Human Resources - Target Corporation

(2022-09 - 2025-01)

Provided strategic and operational HR leadership for a high-volume workforce within a fast-paced retail environment.

• Administered employee leave requests, accommodation requests, attendance management, and employee relations matters.
• Conducted ADA intake discussions with employees and partnered with corporate leave and accommodation teams to support the interactive process and workplace accommodations.
• Counseled employees and managers regarding FMLA, ADA accommodations, attendance policies, workplace concerns, and leave procedures.
• Assisted with workers' compensation claims, workplace injury reporting, medical documentation collection, and return-to-work coordination.
• Conducted investigations involving employee complaints, policy violations, misconduct allegations, attendance concerns, harassment concerns, and workplace disputes.
• Participated in unemployment hearings and employment-related proceedings, including preparation of documentation and representation on behalf of the company.
• Maintained detailed investigative documentation and confidential employee records.
• Coordinated onboarding, orientation, benefits support, employee communications, and HR record management.
• Utilized Workday to process leave events, personnel actions, retirements, terminations, rehires, reinstatements, and employment-related transactions.
• Maintained detailed employee records and ensured documentation accuracy and compliance.
• Reduced overtime utilization by approximately 200 hours per week through workforce planning and scheduling improvements.
• Supported leadership development initiatives resulting in six internal management promotions.

Executive Team Leader – Service & Engagement - Target Corporation

(2021-08 - 2022-09)

• Led workforce management activities for a team of more than 60 employees.
• Supported recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, performance coaching, and attendance management.
• Conducted employee coaching and corrective action discussions.
• Ensured compliance with company policies and operational procedures.

Assistant Store Manager - Talbots

(2019-07 - 2021-07)

• Supported recruitment, onboarding, payroll administration, employee development, and workforce management.
• Assisted with employee relations concerns, accommodations, attendance management, and policy interpretation.
• Utilized Kronos/UKG systems for payroll and timekeeping administration.
• Maintained personnel documentation and confidential employee records.
• Maintained employee personnel files, leave documentation, corrective action records, and confidential HR documentation.
• Supported performance management, corrective action processes, leadership coaching, and workforce planning efforts.
• Ensured compliance with company policy, employment law, HR documentation standards, and confidentiality requirements.

Store Manager - Comfort One Shoes

(2017-04 - 2019-06)

• Managed employee relations, staffing, recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and employee development activities.
• Conducted coaching conversations, performance discussions, and employee counseling.
• Maintained personnel records and operational compliance documentation.

Area Manager - Aerosoles

(2012-01 - 2017-03)

• Managed multiple retail locations and supervised recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and employee development activities.
• Utilized ADP Workforce Now for personnel administration, reporting, and record management.
• Developed talent pipelines, succession plans, and retention initiatives.

Legal Receptionist - Law Office of Philip Hersh

(2005-01 - 2010-12)

• Maintained confidential records, legal files, and sensitive documentation.
• Managed administrative operations requiring accuracy, discretion, confidentiality, and attention to detail.

Coursework - Conflict Analysis & Resolution - George Mason University