HR Employee Relations & Compliance Specialist

Brief Description

Role Summary:

The HR Employee Relations & Compliance Specialist serves as a primary resource for employees, offering guidance and support in navigating workplace situations, resolving conflicts, and addressing performance concerns. This role proactively works to prevent employee relations issues by fostering positive communication and providing expert advice to both employees and management. In addition, the Specialist ensures compliance with HR regulations by managing filings (ERISA, EEO, 5500s), leading audits, and maintaining accurate documentation and record-keeping. The role also oversees employee leave processes (FMLA, ADA), provides policy guidance, and leads training sessions for employees and management on compliance and workplace conduct.

Responsibilities

• A go to person to for employees to support a wide range of situations, including performance concerns, navigating leaves, policy questions, etc. Provides ongoing support to both managers and employees working to support well-being and a positive and productive work environment.
• Proactively identify, address, and resolve potential employee relations issues before they escalate by monitoring workplace dynamics, employee feedback, and manager concerns. Utilize regular check-ins, surveys, and open-door policies to detect early signs of dissatisfaction or conflict. Provide coaching and guidance to managers on how to address performance issues, behavioral concerns, and interpersonal conflicts early on, preventing escalation.
• Assist in the development and implementation of performance improvement plans, as needed, and manage the exit process, including conducting exit interviews, facilitating terminations, and ensuring fair and effective separation agreements that align with company values and legal requirements.
• Oversee and manage employee leave of absence processes, including FMLA, ADA, and other statutory leaves, ensuring compliance with applicable laws & company policies. Provide guidance to employees and management on leave entitlements, documentation requirements, and return-to-work procedures.
• Manages key HR Compliance initiatives by preparing and filing ERISA, EEO, and other required HR filings, including 5500’s, EEO-1 reports, etc. Leads the 401K audit and any additional audits, ensuring compliance with regulations, proper documentation and recordkeeping in accordance with Federal & State requirements, such as personnel files, benefits documentation, and employee records.
• Collaborate with HR leadership and Legal to draft, update, and execute company policies, ensuring they follow legal requirements and best practices and act as primary resource for responding to HR policy and practice questions. Demonstrates a focus on continual improvement by developing/updating forms, checklists, processes, procedures, and employee communication materials to improve clarity and efficiency.
  
  

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• BA/BS degree or equivalent
• 3 years of Human Resources experience with Employee Relations
• 3 years of Human Resources experience with Compliance including Auditing
• 1 years of leave of absence (LOA) experience
  
  

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to build credible relations with employees at all levels including senior management
• Exceptional emotional intelligence and empathy, demonstrating the ability to understand and respond appropriately to employees' feelings.
• Advanced communication skills, including the ability to lead difficult conversations and mediate conflicts
• In-depth understanding of state and federal employment law and regulation requirements
• Strong problem-solving skills and solutions; good judgment
• Strong attention to detail ensuring that all documentation, investigations, and compliance-related records are accurate, complete, and up to date
• Knowledge of current trends in the field, especially in the areas of legislation, compensation, recruitment and retention, strategic human resources planning and workforce development.
• Ability to safeguard and maintain confidential information
• Computer skills including MS office and other business software
• Comfortable in reading, creating and interpreting data to gain an understanding of what data signifies.
• Skilled in leveraging data analysis tools and techniques to obtain, clean, and organize data to generate recommendations and insights.
  
  

Specialized Certifications: SHRM Certification a plus but not required

People Management: N/A