HR Generalist - Leaves & Absenteeism

The Kraft Heinz Company • Champaign, IL

9d • $68,900 - $86,100 • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the HR Lead, the Human Resources Generalist-Leaves & Absenteeism is responsible for managing employee leave and absenteeism programs with a strong emphasis on data, analytics, and proactive case management. This role analyzes attendance/leave trends, supports employees and leaders in navigating covered leave options, coordinates leave case documentation and communications, and partners with internal and external community resources to connect employees to wraparound services. The role helps ensure compliance, consistent practices, and an improved employee experience while reducing unplanned absenteeism through early intervention and effective support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in a Human Resources related profession
• Utilized WorkDay Cloud, HCM, or related ATS platform
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Possess updated knowledge of employment laws and practices

Nice To Haves

• Achieved a PHR and/or SPHR certification
• Experience in supervising

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for leave-related questions (e.g., FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation coordination, state/local leave, company leaves, paid leave benefits as applicable).
• Conduct end-to-end leave case management activities, including intake, eligibility assessment support, documentation collection, status tracking, and employee/manager communications with emphasis on in person support to employees.
• Counsel employees on covered leave options and related benefit impacts (e.g., job protection, pay continuation, benefits continuation) and explain required steps in a clear, supportive, and compliant manner.
• Maintain accurate leave records, ensure confidentiality, and support timely updates in HRIS/leave tracking systems.
• Coordinate with third-party leave administrators (if applicable) to ensure accurate claim handling and consistent employee communications.
• Monitor patterns of absenteeism and attendance issues, identify root causes, and recommend interventions aligned with policy and applicable laws.
• Support leaders and HR business partners with consistent application of attendance policies and documentation standards.
• Develop and implement proactive outreach processes to engage employees exhibiting attendance risk, with a focus on support, resources, and compliance.
• Partner with HR Analytics on the creation & maintenance of dashboards and recurring reports to track leave utilization, absenteeism rates, duration trends, call-off patterns, and departmental hot spots.
• Analyze trends and drivers (e.g., shift, job type, location, seasonality, tenure) and present findings to HR and operational leaders with actionable recommendations.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as time-to-case-open, timeliness of documentation, leave duration, return-to-work outcomes, and recurrence rates.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, data quality, and system configuration to enhance decision-making and compliance.
• Partner with community agencies and internal stakeholders (e.g., EAP, benefits vendors, wellness, DEI, safety) to connect employees to wraparound services such as mental health support, caregiving resources, transportation, housing, food assistance, financial counseling, and other relevant programs.
• Maintain and curate a resource directory tailored to common employee needs and update referral pathways.
• Support employees in navigating resources while maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and documentation requirements.

Benefits

• medical, dental and vision coverage
• 7% 401(k) matching
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs)
• high discretionary bonus
• Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future
• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level