Generalist Duties and Responsibilities
Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the organization a generalist works in, but there are several core tasks associated with the job, including:
Handle Staff Recruitment and Retention
Generalists develop strategies for recruiting new employees, create job postings, reach out to potential candidates, and perform job interviews. They conduct background checks and handle paperwork for new hires. Generalists also create strategies to retain employees and complete exit interviews when employees quit or get fired.
Provide Employee Orientation and Development
Generalists offer orientation programs to new employees to get them acquainted with company policies and procedures as well as handle any onboarding training. Development activities for existing employees include doing performance reviews and helping employees maintain their skills through online or on-site training as needed.
Maintain Employee Information
Generalists are responsible for keeping the company's organizational charts and individual employee data current. They update employee data when the company hires new workers and when existing employees have changes to their personal data or exit the company.
Manage Employee Payroll and Benefits
Processing employee pay, ensuring the accuracy of wage and tax calculations, and distributing paychecks are all part of a generalist's job. They also fill out federal, state, and local tax reports for the company regularly. Managing benefits programs for insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans are also common tasks.
Handle Employee Relations Issues
When an employee faces harassment, discrimination, or other conflict with coworkers or management, a generalist provides guidance, fills out any necessary paperwork, and helps offer conflict resolution. Generalists may also set up programs to prevent workplace problems and inform workers of appropriate conduct.