Human Resources Generalist

Job Description

One of our major fashion clients is looking for a freelance HR Generalist to join the team right away. This is a 3-month freelance role, with potential to convert to a permanent position. This will be focused on supporting the retail stores.

This role is based in NYC and is in the office 4 days a week, remote on Friday's. Role pays $65/hour. Around 40/hours a week.

The HR Generalist, Stores serves as the primary People Team partner for retail store teams. This role is the day-to-day point of contact for store associates and managers on all people-related matters, with a focus on associate relations, benefits administration, and HR operations. Must have experience working with retail stores for this position.

Core Responsibilities

Associate Relations

• Serve as the first point of contact for store associates and managers on employee relations matters including performance concerns, conduct issues, and workplace conflicts.

• Conduct thorough and objective workplace investigations; document findings and recommend appropriate resolutions in partnership with the People leadership team and legal counsel as needed.

• Provide coaching and guidance to store managers on performance management, corrective action, and documentation best practices.

• Partner with store leadership to proactively identify and address employee morale, retention, and engagement trends at the store level.

• Support the offboarding process for involuntary and voluntary separations

• Ensure consistent application of company policies and procedures across all store locations; identify gaps and escalate policy questions appropriately.

Benefits Administration

• Act as the benefits resource for store associates, fielding questions related to medical, dental, vision, 401(k), leave programs, and ancillary benefits.

• Guide store associates and managers through leave of absence processes including FMLA, state-specific paid family leave programs, Short-Term Disability, ADA accommodations, and company leave policies.

• Coordinate with carriers and third-party administrators to resolve escalated associate benefits issues in a timely manner.

HR Operations

• Pull and analyze people data and reporting (headcount, turnover, absenteeism) to surface insights for store and People leadership.

• Partner with Payroll on timekeeping issues, pay corrections, and other payroll-adjacent inquiries escalated from store teams.

• Contribute to People Team projects and initiatives including policy updates, compliance training rollouts, and process improvement efforts.

Qualifications

Required

• 4–5 years of HR Generalist or HR Business Partner experience, with at least 2 years supporting a retail, hospitality, or similarly distributed hourly workforce.

• Solid working knowledge of federal and state employment law, including FMLA, ADA, Title VII, FLSA, and NLRA.

• Demonstrated experience managing employee relations matters, including conducting workplace investigations.

• Hands-on experience with benefits administration and leave of absence management.

• Proficiency with an HRIS platform (e.g., Workday, UKG, ADP); strong Microsoft Office / Google Workspace skills.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust across all levels of an organization.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness to travel to store locations as needed.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• PHR or SHRM-CP certification.

• Experience supporting a multi-state workforce and familiarity with state-specific leave laws (e.g., NY PFL, CA PDL, NJ FLI).

• Prior experience in retail and/ or consumer brands.