Human Resources Generalist

The Human Resource Generalist is responsible for supporting employees throughout their employment lifecycle, with a primary focus on benefits administration, leave administration, employee relations, and employment law compliance. This role serves as a trusted resource for employees by providing guidance, resolving issues, ensuring compliance, and delivering an exceptional employee experience. The HR Generalist also supports HR operations through HRIS administration, onboarding, and policy implementation while partnering closely with leadership and business partners to support the organization's goals.

Duties and Responsibilities
Benefits Administration
• Administer all employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, COBRA, retirement plans, and voluntary benefits.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit questions, educating employees on available programs and resolving benefit-related concerns.
• Act as liaison between employees, insurance brokers, and benefit carriers to resolve enrollment, eligibility, and claims issues.
• Manage the annual open enrollment process, including employee communications, education sessions, system updates, and enrollment reconciliation.
• Maintain the benefits administration portal, ensuring accurate enrollment, eligibility, and termination information.
• Develop and distribute employee communications, educational materials, and presentations related to benefit offerings.
• Coordinate benefit eligibility, enrollments, terminations, and data transfers with external vendors.
• Monitor monthly carrier invoices and ensure timely resolution of discrepancies.

Leave Administration
• Administer all leave programs including FMLA, ADA accommodations, state leave programs, military leave, paid leave, and short- and long-term disability.
• Guide employees and managers through the leave process while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Track leave requests, certifications, return-to-work documentation, and employee communications.
• Coordinate with third-party leave administrators and insurance carriers to ensure seamless case management.
• Maintain accurate leave records within the HRIS.

Employee Relations
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees by responding to HR-related questions and concerns with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Provide guidance to managers on employee relations matters, company policies, HR best practices, and employment law considerations.
• Support ongoing legal education for managers.
• Support conflict resolution and employee issue resolution while promoting a positive workplace culture.
• Assist in the development, interpretation, and communication of HR policies and procedures.
• Recommend improvements to HR programs, processes, and employee experience initiatives.
• Support employee engagement initiatives and HR communications.

HR Operations
• Assist in maintaining and optimizing the UKG HRIS, including workflows, notifications, reporting, and data integrity.
• Serve as the backup for HR reporting, analytics, and system administration.
• Coordinate new hire onboarding, including orientation, I-9 verification, required documentation, and benefit enrollment.
• Process employment verifications, unemployment claims, and other employment-related documentation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and maintain HR policies accordingly.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 4 years of progressive Human Resources experience with significant responsibility for benefits and leave administration.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, COBRA, and ERISA.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing legal education and staying current on employment law requirements.
• Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR, or equivalent) is preferred but not required.
• Experience administering employee benefit programs and working directly with benefit carriers and brokers.
• HRIS experience required; UKG experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Demonstrated critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Passion for creating an exceptional employee experience through responsive HR support.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to work ahead, plan ahead, and pivot quickly as priorities change.
• Continual learner with curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to grow in the role.
• Creative ability and experience with Canva or similar tools for employee communications and presentations is a plus.