HR Generalist - Employee Relations

Klauer Manufacturing•Dubuque, IA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The HR Generalist – Employee Relations is responsible for fostering a positive, fair, and productive work environment by supporting effective communication and collaboration between employees, supervisors, and management. This position serves as a key resource for employee and labor relations, workplace investigations, and engagement activities. The HR Generalist will work closely with supervisors to address workplace issues, ensure consistent policy application, and support compliance with company, union, and legal standards.

Requirements

3–5 years of HR experience, with a focus on employee relations, investigations, and/or labor relations preferred.
Strong understanding of employment law, workplace investigations, and HR best practices.
Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.
Ability to be present and support employees, supervisors, and activities during all three shifts as necessary.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to conduct objective, detailed, and timely investigations.
High level of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
Strong organizational, documentation, and record management abilities.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary contact for employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues.
Partner with supervisors to address and resolve employee concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Participate in union activities and support contract compliance and interpretation.
Assist with investigations and disciplinary processes while ensuring fair and consistent application of policies.
Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee complaints, including harassment, discrimination, policy violations, or workplace conflicts.
Collect and document evidence, interview involved parties and prepare detailed investigation summaries and findings.
Provide recommendations for appropriate action in alignment with company policy, labor agreements, and employment law.
Maintain confidentiality and integrity throughout all stages of the investigation process.
Advise supervisors on appropriate and consistent disciplinary actions, documentation, and communication.
Provide coaching to managers and employees on conflict resolution, performance management, and corrective action procedures.
Review, evaluate, and update HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as the collective bargaining agreement.
Maintain awareness of regulatory changes and assist with implementing necessary updates to HR practices.
Plan and organize company activities, employee recognition events, and milestone celebrations to promote a positive workplace culture.
Coordinate employee anniversary recognition programs and related communications.
Conduct employee exit interviews, identify trends and feedback themes, and provide actionable recommendations to leadership to support employee retention and workplace improvements.
Administer leave of absence requests, including FMLA, medical leave, and other statutory or company-provided leave programs.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and maintain accurate documentation for all leaves.
Advise management and employees on leave policies and procedures.
Ensure HRIS data supports compliance reporting requirements for multiple worksites.
Prepare and submit required reports, including EEOC, ACA, and other federal or state compliance filings.
Maintain HR documentation and records to meet regulatory requirements and internal policies.
Partner with leadership to ensure HR processes across all locations remain compliant.
Manage unemployment claims and related processes, including responding to state agencies, providing accurate documentation, and representing the company in unemployment hearings when necessary.
Advise management on unemployment risk mitigation and proper documentation to support claims.
Maintain records and track trends in unemployment claims to identify opportunities for process improvements.
Manage and maintain employee personnel files in accordance with company policy, union contract requirements, and federal/state regulations.
Ensure all employee documentation is complete, accurate, and retained in compliance with recordkeeping standards.
Conduct regular audits of HR files and databases to verify data accuracy and compliance.
Process and file disciplinary actions, evaluations, training records, and other sensitive documentation promptly and securely.
Support HR data integrity by maintaining organized and up-to-date physical and digital record systems.
Collaborate closely with the other HR Generalists on the team to build cross-functional knowledge and gain exposure to all areas within the HR Department.