WHAT DOES A GENERALIST DO?

Published: Apr 11, 2025 – The Generalist provides administrative support for performance management systems, ensuring timely updates, accurate records, and detailed reporting to assist leadership decisions. The position facilitates employee relations processes, including conflict resolution, policy enforcement, disciplinary actions, and compliance with labor regulations. This role manages employee documentation and compliance requirements while supporting internal audits, staff transitions, and HR survey administration.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Generalist

1. Generalist Details

  • Payroll Management: Perform all payroll functions to include handling timekeeping issues.
  • Time Card Supervision: Ensuring time cards are signed off, entering payroll changes, adjustments, and entering garnishments.
  • Payroll Tax Handling: Paying taxes and child support, updating 401k contributions and other payroll functions.
  • Timekeeping System Management: Point of contact for the timekeeping system.
  • Employee Benefits Administration: Developing and maintaining a system of procedures to administer the employee benefits program.
  • Insurance Coordination: Coordinating the acquisition of medical, dental, vision insurance coverage and 401k.
  • Benefits Record Maintenance: Keeping up-to-date records of each employee's benefits.
  • Benefits Support: Answer any questions employees have about benefits.
  • Benefits Audit: Audit benefit elections and communicate with broker on issues.
  • Employment Verification Reporting: Complete and report on Verification of Employment inquiries.
  • Operational Support: Work with service to support company operations.
  • Business Office Support: Act as a resource to members of the Business Office with various projects.

2. Generalist Responsibilities

  • Performance Management Support: Supports the P&C Generalist in the administration of the automated performance management program to ensure quality, accuracy, and timeliness of performance reviews.
  • System Update Management: Ensures staff changes are entered into the system on a timely basis.
  • Performance Reporting: Generates regular reports on the performance management process in support of management.
  • Performance Tech Optimization: Recommends and implements ways to leverage performance management technology.
  • Employee Relations Assistance: Assists with the resolution of employee relations issues, including staff policy violations, job performance issues leading to progressive discipline and/or termination, investigation, and documentation of employee complaints.
  • Problem Solving: Assists employees and management in resolving People and Culture problems.
  • Management-Employee Mediation: Acts as an intermediary between Credit Union management and employees.
  • Termination Representation: Represents the Credit Union in staff termination meetings.
  • Employee Management Support: Supports the P&C Generalist and AVP of P&C in the records management of employees.
  • Documentation Oversight: Ensuring that proper documentation exists for terminations, promotions, internal movement, and auditing purposes.
  • Survey Administration Support: Supports the administration of employee surveys.
  • Compliance Administration: Administer employee compliance details, including pre-employment screening, employee personnel files, tax and I9 documents, Department of Health and NYSAIS records, FMLA, DBL, PFL, and ACA requirements.

3. Generalist Job Summary

  • Survey Analysis: Provides detailed analysis of survey results including new hire and exit surveys.
  • Corrective Action Planning: Presents ideas for corrective measures when patterns are discovered.
  • Policy Update Assistance: Assists the P&C Generalist in revisions of policy and Staff Guidebook updates.
  • Policy Communication: Serves as a key communicator to staff and managers on policy changes and updates.
  • ACA Compliance Assistance: Assists with ACA compliance activity schedule and related requirements.
  • Regulatory Task Support: Aids in completing regulatory tasks for various benefit plans and submits information as required.
  • Payroll Query Handling: Answers staff members’ payroll questions and troubleshoots problems.
  • HRIS Data Accuracy: Assists in ensuring employee pay and job data are accurate and up to date in various HRIS databases.
  • Payroll Audit Support: Provides support on payroll-related audits.
  • HR Education Engagement: Attends external Human Resources classes/webinars to maintain an awareness of regulatory and legal changes and best practices.
  • Regulatory Compliance Awareness: Remains cognizant of and adheres to credit union policies and procedures, and regulations pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act.

4. Generalist Accountabilities

  • HR Project Leadership: Lead key HR processes from a project management and transactional perspective, in support of the overall objectives for designated client group(s).
  • HR Activity Leadership: Lead key HR activities within designated client group(s).
  • Employee Relations Coaching: Provides coaching/consultation regarding employee relations and HR issues.
  • Legal and Management Collaboration: Partner closely with both Legal and management to ensure appropriate steps are taken to support business needs, while adhering to all Goodyear policies and state/federal laws.
  • Investigation Management: Conduct/Manage investigations into harassment, discrimination, employee relations, fraud, theft and other allegations against the company, associates, and management.
  • Investigative Outcome Application: Work with management to recommend appropriate follow-up actions, based on investigation outcomes.
  • Performance Management Consulting: Consulting with designated client group[s] on dealing with poor performers and managing performance improvement plans.
  • Legal Partnership for Performance Issues: Partnering with Legal and management regarding next steps for associates who do not successfully complete performance improvement plans (PIPs).
  • Recruitment Leadership: Lead organization recruitment needs for all positions within client group(s).
  • Engagement Survey Management: Manage the engagement survey process.
  • HRIS Reporting and Analysis: Responsible for ad-hoc reporting from various HRIS sources and associated analytics.
  • Data-Driven Performance Recommendations: Make recommendations from data to drive performance improvement within client groups.

5. Generalist Functions

  • Recruitment and Onboarding Lead: Primary day-to-day contact and resource for recruitment, orientation and onboarding activities.
  • Communication Coordination: Ensure that necessary communications are sent and colleagues are presented with coherent and complete information.
  • Customer Service for Onboarding: Performs customer service function by reaching out to new colleagues and ensuring colleague needs are identified and met within established timeframes.
  • Onboarding Process Contributor: Creates a positive impression with key contributors to the onboarding process within the organization.
  • Recruitment Participation: Participates in the recruitment process, including identifying hiring needs, sourcing, interviewing, and hiring business colleagues across Sound Physician's operational departments.
  • Job Description Management: Responsible for drafting and editing job descriptions for business colleagues.
  • Employee Relations Contact: Contact employee relations issues, provide initial intake and route to Manager, People Support or Director, People Support as appropriate.
  • Performance Management Coordination: Contact managers to discuss performance management/disciplinary action, provide initial intake and route to Manager or Director of People Support as appropriate.
  • Situation Assessment: Assesses situations and escalates to the Manager or Director.
  • Judgment and Caution: Provides good business judgment and errs on the side of caution.