Associate | HR Generalist

Polywood•Syracuse, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

POLYWOOD is hiring an Associate | HR Generalist to serve as a frontline partner for team members and leaders in Syracuse, Indiana. The role handles employee relations, investigations, leaves, workers’ compensation, and unemployment, ensuring that cases are managed with accurate documentation, timely follow-up, and appropriate compliance. It involves spending time on the production floor and serving as a steady, positive resource for team members. The HR Generalist is the first point of contact for employee relations questions and concerns, listens to team members, follows established processes, protects confidential information, and escalates complex or high-risk situations to the Human Resources Manager. The position offers the opportunity to develop skills across a broad range of HR responsibilities with support from the manager. A degree or prior HR experience is not required; management experience in healthcare, hospitality, or another people-focused field may be considered. This is a full-time, on-site position in Syracuse, Indiana, with regular time on the production floor. The role involves standing, walking, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Requirements

Process-oriented, with strong attention to detail.
Highly organized and able to manage multiple cases, deadlines, and conversations.
Able to handle confidential information with discretion.
Helpful, flexible, and adaptable, with the ability to pivot when priorities change.
Clear verbal and written communication skills.
Comfortable using Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
A degree or HR experience is not required; management experience in healthcare, hospitality, or another people-focused field will be considered.
Able to meet the role’s physical demands, including standing, walking, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Human Resources.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations questions and concerns.
Conduct investigations, prepare documentation, and support employee separations.
Manage FMLA and short-term disability leaves, including eligibility, documentation, and compliance.
Administer workers’ compensation cases, including medical coordination and return-to-work planning.
Coordinate and respond to unemployment claims and hearings.
Coach team members and leaders on policy, performance, and best practices.
Partner with Safety, organizational leaders, and third-party vendors.
Support the administration of employee evaluations.
Escalate complex or high-risk issues to HR leadership.
Maintain accurate records, manage follow-up, and handle confidential matters discreetly.