HR Operations/Employee Relations Specialist

At Groups, the HR Operations/Employee Relations Specialist plays a key role in supporting HR operations and employee relations across the organization. This position serves as a trusted resource for employees and leadership, handling various HR and employee relations functions. The HR Operations/Employee Relations Specialist contributes to fostering a positive and productive workplace by ensuring fair and consistent application of HR policies and procedures while maintaining compliance with employment laws and regulations.

Essential Functions: 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Serve as a resource to employees and leadership on employee relations matters, policies, and procedures including EEO, ADA, ADEA, OSHA, workers compensation, harassment, discrimination, performance management, disciplinary actions and and terminations.  Ensure compliance with company policies, employee handbook, and federal and state employment laws and regulations.
• Conduct and assist with investigations related to employee complaints, performance issues, and policy violations, handling less complex matters independently and escalating more complex cases to the Director, Employee Relations.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring state and federal regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a resource on HR and employee relations trends, and work with leadership to improve work relationships, build morale, improve engagement and increase productivity and retention.
• Assist in developing and updating HR policies and procedures to ensure alignment with legal and regulatory changes.
• Work with Director, Employee Relations to provide consistent HR policy guidance and interpretation.
• Support the Director, Employee Relations in executing broader employee relations initiatives and compliance efforts including workforce planning, succession planning, executive training and coaching needs, compensation analyses and analyzing business trends and metrics.
• Support the onboarding process by coordinating new hire paperwork.
• Review and make decisions on employee background checks and rehire eligibility.
• Maintain employee documents for employee personnel files in HRIS (ADPWorkforce Now).
• Manage employee status changes, including promotions, transfers, and terminations, ensuring accurate documentation
• Process and respond to employment verifications and unemployment insurance claims.
• Serve as lead on audits of personnel files.
• Assist with ADA, FMLA, and leave of absences.
• Conform to all Groups policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of employee relations, performance management, and federal and state employment laws.
• Experience supporting a multi-unit business to provide strategic guidance on employee relations.
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to provide sound recommendations for employee relations issues.
• Proven experience working well with others to maintain and build cross-functional (internal and external) relationships.
• Experience working with a remote workforce.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain policies and procedures effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.  
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, and policies.
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization's hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and the administrative practices related to those factors.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple investigations and projects at one time.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data.
• Proficient with Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Experience with HRIS or HCM systems such as ADPWorkforceNow.  

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Minimum of five years of human resources experience, preferably supporting a multi-state healthcare organization.
• Human resources experience must include: conducting employee investigations of various complexity, maintaining electronic employee files, and managing employee onboarding and offboarding.
• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in HR or related discipline required.  
• Previous experience at a substance use disorder or behavioral healthcare provider preferred.
• PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP preferred.
• This position may be required to travel 10% of the time as needed.