Lee H.

Point of Contact for the Honolulu District Office of the USDOL-Wage & Hour Division covering the entire State of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan-CNMI. Community outreach & educational-training support, resource planning specialist & support, etc., for workers/employees and for businesses/employers. Since March 2020 due to the Pandemic, I was authorized to telework or work remotely from home. Efficiency maintained and improved as eliminated commuting time of at least an hour and half from each workday. Utilized various online platforms and technologies to support outreach role and related responsibilities. Currently, I am authorized to appear onsite to conduct in-person training sessions/presentations and for outreach events when requested if the activity is deemed safe and without any budgetary restrictions. Maintained a flexible work schedule to meet the agency's mission and objectives.

To promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the Nation's workforce. As an WHD Investigator, my duty and responsibility is to enforce the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, overtime pay when eligible employees worked over 40.0 hours in a work week, ensure employers keep and maintain accurate time records and pay records, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, As Amended (FLSA). I am also expected to ensure compliance with other laws administered by my agency such as the Family Medical Leave Act and government contract laws such as DBA/DBRA and SCA.

Labor Law Enforcement Specialist for the State of Hawaii DLIR - Wage Standards Division (WSD) conducted compliance for the Intake & Compliance Branch and conducted investigations for the Compliance Branch of the statutory wage laws for employers conducting business in Hawaii.

Voluntarily stepped down as a Claims Supervisor at the Honolulu Claims Office to work as a Claims Assistant at the Waipahu Claims Office to help raise our eldest son. In 2003, we were blessed with fraternal twins so being closer to our home in Ewa Beach, Hawaii to help raise our family was the right choice made. Opportunities for employment advancement were available later once the children were older.

Promoted to UI Claims Supervisor at the Honolulu Claims Office to manage claims staff, clerical staff, and daily operations of the Intake Branch of unemployment claim applications. I identified areas in claims-taking to improve accuracy and efficiency for the staff. Impact is better and faster customer service to claimants. Less stress for the staff and for the public. After a year, I was asked to supervise the journey level staff of the Intra-State Payments Branch that handles all unemployment claims payment within the Honolulu County to meet timely payment requirements. After another year, I was asked to supervise the staff of the Liable Interstate Unit that handled all unemployment claims applications and payments filed out of the State of Hawaii to maintain out of state benefits payment efficiency. I supervised the entire claims assistant workforce at the Honolulu Claims Office while the Office Manager supervised the claims examiners who adjudicated decisions of claim eligibility. When I left this supervisory position, the Honolulu Claims Office promoted two (2) claims assistants to supervise these three claims units.

Intake of unemployment claim applications, review initial claim applications for qualifications and potential eligibility, data-entry/process applications, conduct benefit rights interviews/orientations to claimants, receive/review submitted claims for unemployment compensation benefits payment, facilitate benefit payments to eligible claimants, identify potential eligibility issues to claims examiners to adjudicate.

Drafted my Congressional Internship Proposal which was sent to all Hawaii Delegates (Sen. Inouye, Sen. Akaka, Rep. Abercrombie and Rep. Mink) at that time. Proposal to become a paid intern was accepted by U.S. Representation Patsy T. Mink to work at her D.C. Office. Legislative research & support, response to constituents as directed, conducted Capitol Tours for guests, clerical work & related office tasks as directed. I was honored to be asked to become her regular staff, but I decided to return back to Hawaii to help my parents and to help plan my wedding in Hawaii which took place three years later.

After graduating from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I found employment as a Legislative Aide for Hawaii Representative Emilio Alcon. I performed legislative research & support, did work as an office staff & clerical staff. I did other related tasks as assigned & directed bu Mr. Alcon and his office manager. During this employment period, I drafted my Congressional Internship Proposal which was accepted by U.S. House of Representative Patsy T. Mink to work in Washington, D.C.