HR Generalist

HR Manager

Why Join Oilgear

As a leader in high-performance hydraulic solutions, The Oilgear Company offers a collaborative environment where innovation, efficiency, and reliability drive every decision. We empower employees with ownership of their work and support ongoing growth through professional development and continuous improvement.

Summary

The HR Generalist supports day-to-day Human Resources at The Oilgear Company's Traverse City, MI headquarters and owns payroll, benefits, leave administration, and new hire onboarding through Day 1 for Traverse City; Houston, TX; the Georgetown, TX shared services office; the New Berlin, WI office; and remote sales and field service employees across the United States. The role also provides on-site HR and office support in Traverse City, including employee events, preparing meeting space for leadership and interview candidates, mail, and general administrative tasks.

The HR Generalist uses independent judgment to apply payroll, benefits, and leave rules, resolve issues, and advise employees and managers. The role reports to the Director of Human Resources and works as part of a collaborative HR team.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

Payroll and Timekeeping

• Own weekly and biweekly payroll for supported locations in ADP Workforce Now, from validating inputs through submission for final approval.
• Determine the correct treatment of pay changes, deductions, garnishments, and final pay under federal and multi-state wage laws, and approve routine corrections and off-cycle payments within the established threshold, bringing larger corrections to the payroll approver.
• Maintain multi-state payroll tax setup, including state registration when an employee begins working in a new state.
• Analyze payroll data, prepare reports for Accounting, and identify trends and process improvements.

Benefits and 401(k)

• Administer benefits, including eligibility determinations for enrollments, qualifying life events, and terminations; coordinate COBRA and open enrollment.
• Process 401(k) deferral changes and support remittance and reconciliation.
• Provide benefits eligibility and hours data to support the Director's year-end ACA reporting.
• Reconcile benefits deductions to carrier invoices and resolve billing and enrollment issues with carriers, looping in the Director on plan or vendor concerns.
• Interpret plan provisions and HR policies to advise employees and managers on pay, benefits, PTO, attendance, and leave.

Leave and Accommodations

• Administer FMLA and state leaves, including eligibility and designation determinations, certifications, notices, and tracking, and flag cases nearing exhaustion to the HR Manager.
• Coordinate short-term disability claims and return-to-work dates with the carrier.
• Recognize when a leave, return-to-work, or employee request may involve an accommodation, and bring it to the HR Manager.
• Respond to unemployment claims and agency requests, partnering with the HR Manager on contested claims and looping in the Director on agency charges or audits.
• Maintain confidential medical and leave files separate from personnel files.

Onboarding, Offboarding, and Records

• Coordinate pre-onboarding after the signed offer, including background checks, drug screens, MVRs, ADP onboarding, and the IT equipment request.
• Complete Form I-9 and E-Verify, including determining document acceptability and resolving cases.
• Set up new hires in ADP and deliver Day 1 orientation, including benefits enrollment.
• Process separations, including final pay, PTO payout, benefits termination, and equipment return, working with the HR Manager on involuntary separations.
• Maintain personnel files, required postings, and compliance training records.

Events and Office Support

• Plan and lead employee events and recognition programs, including selecting vendors and managing the approved budget; partner with the HR Manager on shared events.
• Maintain the HR events calendar.
• Prepare conference rooms for leadership meetings, visitors, and interview candidates, and handle incoming and outgoing mail, sharing coverage with the HR Manager.

Team Collaboration and Growth

• Participate in weekly HR team syncs and regular 1:1s with the Director to share updates on payroll, leaves, onboarding, and open items.
• Bring employee relations concerns and complaints to the HR Manager and partner on next steps.
• Alert the HR Manager and Director right away to harassment, discrimination, or safety concerns; legal or agency notices; and payroll errors affecting multiple employees.
• Cross-train with the HR Manager on payroll and shared work so coverage is always in place.
• Recommend improvements to HR processes and policies.
• Grow into broader HR responsibilities; reporting may move to the HR Manager – Traverse City in the future.

Systems, Tools, & Technology

• ADP Workforce Now (HRIS, Payroll, Benefits), E-Verify, background screening vendor portal, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Human Resources or Business, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of HR generalist or HR and payroll experience.
• Hands-on payroll processing experience; ADP Workforce Now preferred.
• Experience administering benefits and FMLA or other leaves of absence.
• Working knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Form I-9 and E-Verify, COBRA, HIPAA privacy, and ERISA.
• Working knowledge of multi-state wage and hour, final pay, and leave laws.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions on payroll, benefits, or leave matters.
• Strong Excel skills, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field.
• Multi-state payroll experience.
• Recruiting experience, preferably for hourly or skilled-trade roles.
• aPHR, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification, or active pursuit.
• Manufacturing experience.

Competencies

• Accuracy: Ensures payroll and data changes are accurate and compliant.
• Judgment: Applies policy and law to make sound, independent decisions on payroll, benefits, and leave matters.
• Service Orientation: Responds to employees promptly and courteously.
• Confidentiality: Protects employee and pay data.
• Organization: Manages recurring deadlines and multiple requests.
• Accountability: Owns tasks through completion.

Behaviors Required

• Deadline-Driven: Plans ahead for payroll and filing deadlines.
• Professionalism: Maintains discretion and respect.
• Dependable: Follows through on commitments.
• Continuous Learner: Builds HR knowledge and skills.

Working Environment and Physical Demands

• Primarily office-based role with occasional visits to production areas.
• Regular use of standard office equipment (computer, phone, copier, etc.).
• Must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.
• Requires sitting, standing, and walking throughout the workday.
• Occasional exposure to shop environments with potential noise, dust, odors, and fumes.
• Occasional travel to Oilgear facilities (0–5%).

Training Requirements

• General and site-specific safety training.
• HR compliance training (FMLA, ADA, EEO, harassment prevention).
• ADP Workforce Now (HRIS, payroll, and benefits) training.
• ISO 9001 processes and procedures.
• Customer service and conflict resolution training.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, and ear protection when in production or test areas.
• Additional PPE as required for specific environments or tasks.

What We Offer

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Optional hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Safety shoe reimbursement program
• Safety glasses reimbursement program
• Tuition assistance up to $5,000 per year

Scope & Flexibility Statement

This job description outlines the general duties and requirements of the position and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities may change or be added based on business needs.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodation Statement

The Oilgear Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Oilgear Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws. Applicants or employees requiring accommodation may contact Human Resources.

Employment Status Statement

Employment with The Oilgear Company is at-will. This means that either the employee or The Oilgear Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law.

Nothing in this job description or any other Company document should be interpreted as a contract of employment, an offer of continued employment, or a guarantee of employment for any specific duration.