HR Generalist - Leaves & Absenteeism

Kraft Heinz•Champaign, IL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Here at Kraft Heinz, we grow our people to grow our business, because we believe that great people make great companies. When you join our table, you can expect access to an array of holistic wellness benefits and perks, including medical, dental and vision coverage, 7% 401(k) matching, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to help foster diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees, an industry-leading total rewards package that emphasizes a high discretionary bonus. This is a brand-new role that will be onsite at our Champaign, IL plant. Benefits begin immediately upon hire for salaried employees. HR Generalist-Leaves & Absenteeism at a glance... 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 coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
7% 401(k) matching
Business Resource Groups (BRGs)
High discretionary bonus
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