HR Generalist

The Human Resources Generalist - Employee Relations & Compliance supports the Corporate HR Manager in the administration and delivery of human resources programs and services across a growing, multi-site material handling distribution organization with approximately $100 million in annual revenue and six locations throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

This position serves as the primary resource for employee relations, compliance administration, workplace investigations, leave management, policy administration, and HR risk mitigation. The HR Generalist partners with employees and leaders to promote a positive, productive, and compliant work environment while supporting the Company's operational objectives and employee experience initiatives.

The Human Resources Generalist is responsible for supporting day-to-day HR operations, including employee relations, regulatory compliance, leave administration, onboarding, benefits support, HRIS maintenance, training coordination, policy implementation, employee communications, and performance management processes. This role provides guidance to managers and employees regarding company policies, workplace concerns, employment practices, and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.

Acting as a trusted and responsive resource, the Human Resources Generalist helps ensure HR programs, policies, and procedures are administered consistently, accurately, and confidentially while maintaining compliance with all applicable employment regulations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Through effective collaboration, sound judgment, and attention to detail, this role contributes to mitigating organizational risk, enhancing employee engagement, and supporting the Company's overall business strategy and workforce objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Compliance:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters, providing guidance and support to employees and managers on workplace concerns, policy interpretation, performance management, conflict resolution, and employment practices.
• Partner with managers to address employee performance concerns, attendance issues, conduct matters, and workplace challenges in a consistent, legally compliant, and employee-focused manner.
• Conduct and support workplace investigations, including gathering information, documenting findings, maintaining confidentiality, and preparing investigation summaries and recommendations.
• Prepare and maintain documentation related to corrective actions, performance improvement plans, coaching discussions, policy violations, and other employee relations matters.
• Assist in the development, implementation, communication, and administration of HR policies, procedures, and best practices across all company locations.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including requirements applicable to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
• Coordinate HR compliance activities, including I-9 administration, personnel file audits, labor law postings, policy acknowledgments, training records, and employment documentation.
• Support internal audits, compliance reviews, policy updates, and corrective action initiatives designed to reduce organizational risk and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Escalate sensitive, complex, or high-risk employee relations and compliance matters to the Corporate HR Manager as appropriate.

Leave Administration, Benefits & Workers' Compensation

• Administer employee leave programs, including FMLA, PFML, disability, workers' compensation, ADA accommodations, and other protected or company-approved leaves.
• Coordinate leave documentation, employee communications, manager notifications, return-to-work processes, and required recordkeeping.
• Manage workers' compensation claims from initial incident reporting through resolution, including claim coordination, communication with carriers, return-to-work efforts, and tracking outcomes.
• Assist employees with benefits-related questions, qualifying life events, open enrollment activities, and benefit program communications.
• Partner with Payroll and Finance to ensure employee status changes, deductions, leave impacts, and payroll-related information are processed accurately.

HR Operations & Compliance Administration:

• Support the Corporate HR Manager in maintaining consistent HR practices, processes, and compliance standards across all company locations.
• Maintain accurate employee records, personnel files, HRIS data, compliance documentation, organizational charts, and job descriptions.
• Prepare reports, audits, workforce metrics, compliance trackers, and employee data summaries to support business and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure HR transactions and documentation are completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with company policies and record retention requirements.
• Support onboarding and offboarding activities with a primary focus on compliance requirements, policy acknowledgments, employment documentation, and employee transitions.

Training, Safety & Risk Management

• Coordinate and track required compliance, harassment prevention, safety, HR, and leadership training programs.
• Maintain training records and ensure completion requirements are met across all locations.
• Partner with operational leadership to support workplace safety initiatives, regulatory compliance efforts, safety communications, and workers' compensation management.
• Assist in identifying employee relations trends, compliance risks, and training opportunities that support workforce effectiveness and risk mitigation.

HR Team Collaboration & Business Partnership

• Work collaboratively with the Corporate HR Manager, Talent Acquisition team, Payroll, Finance, Safety, and operational leaders to deliver consistent and effective HR services.
• Provide employee relations and compliance guidance while supporting broader HR initiatives, projects, and organizational objectives.
• Serve as a trusted, responsive, and professional resource to employees and managers while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment.
• Contribute to a proactive, service-oriented HR team focused on employee engagement, legal compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Support organizational growth and workforce planning initiatives by partnering with HR team members and business leaders to address employee and management needs effectively.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent HR experience may be considered.
• 3–5 years of HR generalist, HR coordinator, or related HR experience preferred.
• Experience supporting employees and managers in a multi-location, industrial, distribution, field-service, or similar environment is preferred.
• Experience with onboarding, benefits administration, leave coordination, employee records, HRIS systems (ADP Workforce), compliance support, recruiting support, and employee relations documentation.
• Union experience preferred.
• Certifications: SHRM-CP or PHR preferred, but not required.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Primarily office-based role with regular interaction with employees, managers, and leadership.
• May require occasional travel to company locations to support onboarding, employee relations, training, engagement activities, compliance needs, or HR initiatives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive employee and business information.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk and use computer equipment.
• Lift up to 20 pounds occasionally.
• Travel to company locations as needed

Summit offers eligible employees a benefits package that may include health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and other Company-sponsored benefits, subject to applicable plan terms, eligibility requirements, and company policies.

Pay range: $30-$40/hour

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodation Statement

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. If you require an accommodation during the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources at recruitinginfo@summithandling.com.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position.

The Company reserves the right to modify, add, or remove responsibilities and duties consistent with business needs, applicable law, and the employee's role. Employees may be required to perform additional duties that are reasonably related to the position.

The essential functions of the position may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Pay Range

$30 - $40 USD