**SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE AND FUNCTION:** The Associate Relations Generalist plays an important role in providing day-to-day support to both Associates and managers across the organization. This individual contributor is responsible for providing general guidance and interpretation on company policies and procedures, handling the processing of routine accommodation and leave requests, managing regulatory inquires and responses, ensuring compliance with standard performance management practices, and maintaining accurate case records. The Associate Relations Generalist collaborates with cross-functional teams and escalates complex issues for appropriate and timely resolution. This role participates in routine and ad-hoc audits and contributes to various projects within People and Organization (P&O). **ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:** + **Policy Interpretation & Advising:** Interpret company policies and procedures for Associates and managers, offering real-time solutions to nuanced and intricate Associate Relations problems. Identify appropriate company policy or process applicable to the situation; interpret and provide direction to Associates and managers; ensure clear communication and understanding. + **Regulatory & Compliance:** Process and respond to unemployment claims; monitor adverse results and review compliance with background checks; assess intra-business unit employment eligibility; fulfill subpoenas; and other regulatory needs. Advise on disability accommodation requests, as well as religious accommodation, and personal leaves. Maintain current knowledge on relevant employment/labor laws and policies through use of multi-state legal resources and a thorough understanding of the company’s employment policies. Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with employment laws, regulatory training, company policies, and Associate Relations procedures. + **Associate Relations Matters** : Identify and mitigate risk by serving as the first point of contact for Associate Relations concerns, providing guidance and resolution, or escalation. Maintain detailed and accurate records of Associate Relations cases and activities for future reference, escalated resolution, and preparation for litigation defense. Review, advise, and support managers with executing disciplinary actions related to standard Associate Relations issues. Escalate complex Associate Relations issues for timely and accurate resolution. + **Ongoing Improvement** : : Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Legal, Compliance, Risk and Safety, and Payroll to ensure adherence to company policies and employment regulations. Assist in updating Associate Relations documentation, including contribution to updated policies and procedures. Participate in ad-hoc projects as needed, contributing to broader P&O and company initiatives and continuous process improvements. + Fulfills other related duties as assigned. **EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:** + Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree preferred + 3+ years’ experience in Human Resources or related field + 5+ years experience in HR, service, retail or hospitality businesses (muti-unit and people services businesses) + SHRM or HRCI Certification + MS Office Suite + Case Management, Data Analytics _*All degrees will be deemed “or equivalent combination of education and experience” unless absolutely required to do the job (i.e., DVM degree for Veterinarian, Law degree for Attorney, etc.)_ **PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:** + Strong understanding of associate relations and HR best practices + Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to explain policies & procedures clearly + Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism + Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills + Exceptional communication and collaboration skills + Experience with HRIS and case management systems and tools **CORE COMPETENCIES:** + Integrity + Judgement + Listening + Detail-Oriented + Customer Service + Approachability **Additional Information** [Required for CA, NY, WA, CO, Washington D.C. only]: Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials. The US base salary range for this full-time position is $35.00 - $40.00, hourly. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only. **If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.** Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more! The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development) We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com