HR Generalist

Southern Foodservice Management is seeking an experienced and motivated HR Generalist to support the day-to-day Human Resources operations at our Fort Lee location.

The HR Generalist serves as a primary point of contact for employees and managers and provides support across employee relations, leave administration, workers’ compensation, compliance, onboarding, training, and other HR functions. This position will work closely with the HR Manager, Recruiter, HR Coordinator, Corporate Human Resources, and operational leaders to ensure consistent application of company policies, provide effective employee support, and promote retention and compliance.

The ideal candidate is organized, professional, approachable, and able to exercise sound judgment when handling confidential and sensitive employee matters.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Manager Support

• Serve as a primary resource for employees and managers regarding HR policies, procedures, and workplace concerns.
• Conduct initial employee-relations intake, fact-finding, and documentation for routine employee concerns.
• Assist with workplace investigations, performance management, coaching, attendance, conduct, and corrective action.
• Maintain employee-relations case documentation and provide updates to the HR Manager.
• Escalate complex or sensitive matters to the HR Manager or Corporate Human Resources.

Leave & Workers’ Compensation

• Administer FMLA and other approved leaves, including eligibility, documentation, follow-up, and return-to-work processes.
• Maintain confidential leave records and coordinate restrictions and return-to-work planning.
• Coordinate workers’ compensation claims, including injury reporting, documentation, medical updates, restrictions, and return-to-work follow-up.
• Partner with Safety, Operations, claims administrators, and Corporate HR as needed.

Turnover & Employee Feedback

• Review turnover data by location, department, shift, manager, tenure, and separation type.
• Conduct or coordinate exit interviews and identify trends in employee feedback and early turnover.
• Provide HR and Operations leadership with observations and recommendations to support retention.

Unemployment & Compliance

• Respond to unemployment claims, prepare supporting documentation, and assist with routine unemployment hearings.
• Support personnel file, I-9, policy, and HR process audits.
• Assist with maintaining compliance with federal, state, local, and contract-specific employment requirements.

HR Operations, Training & Onboarding

• Support new-hire onboarding, orientation, and required employment documentation.
• Assist with employee training and monitor completion of required training.
• Maintain accurate employee information in Paylocity and other HR systems.
• Provide backup support for HRIS transactions, payroll-related activities, reporting, benefits routing, and other HR functions.
• Collaborate with Corporate Human Resources on benefits, payroll, compliance, employee relations, and other HR matters.
• Participate in HR projects and process improvement initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least five years of progressive HR experience, including employee relations and HR case management.
• Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, unemployment, wage and hour, and general employment practices.
• Experience working with an HRIS and Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to travel locally between assigned work locations as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• PHR, SHRM-CP, or comparable HR certification.
• Experience supporting a high-volume hourly workforce.
• Experience in a multi-site, food service, hospitality, production, or similarly fast-paced environment.
• Experience with workplace investigations, unemployment hearings, workers’ compensation, and turnover analysis.
• Experience using Paylocity or another HRIS.

Requirements

Physical Requirements 

• Strength: Lift up to 20lbs
• Posture: Sitting 80%, Standing 10%, Walking 10%
• Movement of objects: Occasional
• Heavy lifting, Heavy Carrying, Pushing, Pulling
• Climbing or Balancing: Occasional
• Stooping: Frequent
• Reaching: Frequent
• Handling: Frequent
• Talking/Hearing: Frequent
• Seeing: Frequent
• Temperature Variation: Frequent
• Typing: Frequent
• Reading: Frequent