HR Generalist

Description

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we’re imagining that future today.

We work onsite 5 days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

What You’ll Do:

The Human Resources Generalist provides hands-on support for daily HR operations, with a primary focus on employee relations, leadership development, team member engagement, and regulatory compliance. Serving as the primary HR resource for team members, supervisors, and managers, this role ensures questions and concerns are addressed promptly, professionally, and confidentially. To support both production shifts and maintain a strong on-site presence, this position follows a split schedule of Monday from 7:00 AM–3:30 PM and Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 PM–8:30 PM, allowing for consistent engagement across day and afternoon operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Responsible for the day-to-day HR functions, which include employee relations, policy adherence, recognition and rewards, training, and development.
• Performs routine tasks required to administer and execute human resource programs, including but not limited to disciplinary matters, disputes, and investigations, performance and talent management, productivity, recognition, morale, and training and development.
• Participates in and supports team member disciplinary meetings, terminations, and investigations, while managing progressive discipline with managers to ensure consistency and fairness throughout all investigations. 
• Oversee and coordinate the onboarding process for new hires, including processing all new-hire paperwork, managing offer letters, background checks, and I-9 compliance, and partnering with IT to distribute equipment and facilitate new-hire announcements. 
• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of team member offboarding processes, including facilitating exit interviews, ensuring company equipment return, revoking system and account access, processing final documentation, and providing a smooth and compliant transition for departing team members.
• Support the administration of annual performance reviews, mid-year check-ins, and ongoing coaching initiatives throughout the year, ensuring consistency, timeliness, and alignment with organizational standards. 
• Responsible for all Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) claims and appeals, which may include attending UIA hearings on behalf of Whisker.
• Coordinate and ensure seamless administration of team member leave programs such as FMLA, LOA, Parental Leave, etc.
• Partner with the Safety Team to administer Workers’ Compensation programs in accordance with company policy and applicable state laws. 
• Collaborates with the Recruiting Team to support interviews as needed and manages all internal movement processes, including internal interviews, candidate coordination, offers, declines, and internal transfers. 
• Assist the Recruiting Team with annual headcount planning, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, budget considerations, and workforce needs. 
• Contribute to and help drive site-level and company-wide projects throughout the year, including planning, coordination, execution, and follow-up to ensure initiatives are completed on time and aligned with organizational goals. 
• Provides management coaching to build leadership capabilities to address and resolve team member issues.
• Administer attendance tracking within the HRIS, including managing point systems, supporting system accuracy and functionality, monitoring usage patterns, and issuing disciplinary action in alignment with company policy.
• Partner with leadership through regular meetings to align HR strategies with business objectives.
• Lead and support ongoing team member retention initiatives to improve engagement and reduce attrition.
• Analyze and monitor turnover trends to identify gaps, recommend solutions, and drive continuous improvement.
• Review, track, and document compliance with mandatory and non-mandatory training, continuing education, and work assessments. This may include anti-harassment training, professional licensure, aptitude exams, and certifications.
• Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations and recommended best practices; reviews policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law
• Maintain and organize personnel files, ensuring accurate and accessible documentation.
• Assist in planning and coordinating company events
• Assist with the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of company-wide Learning & Development programs, including needs assessment, content development, facilitation, and effectiveness tracking to ensure strong adoption and measurable outcomes.
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS in Human Resources, business, or equivalent education, and/or equivalent years of experience
• 4+ years of HR Generalist experience with proven knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations
• Proficiency with or the ability to quickly learn the HRIS and talent management systems
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• High degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• Bilingual 

Benefits & Purrks: 

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance Discount
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.