Provide guidance and recommendations to management team on operational and strategic HR issues. Implement corporate and local HR initiatives; collaborate on and provide strategic coaching to client groups on performance management initiatives, talent assessments and succession planning. First point of contact for employee relations matters; lead investigations and deliver disciplinary actions as needed. Manage full-cycle recruitment, disability claims and intercompany transfers including immigration administration for client groups.• Collaborated on the creation of a formalized modified duties procedure and functional abilities form to provide to employees in support of the return-to-work process.

Collaborated with the Distribution Center Vice President and management team to create and support strategies to meet business needs. Built and maintained strong working relationships with leadership and centers of expertise. Proactively supported on all matters that achieved business objectives related to employee relations, employee engagement, performance and development, workforce and change management, and attendance management. Strengthened employee-relations relationship by leading workplace investigations, interpreting employee policies and helping to build employee engagement.• Partnered with the project management team and Change Management analyst to support and provide input into the training plan and overall change management strategy regarding the opening of the new Big and Bulky Distribution Center in Rocky View.• Worked with the Vice President and managers to interpret engagement survey results, advise and support the development of action plans to address areas of improvement and maintain identified strengths.• Collaborated with the senior management team on the implementation of distribution center compensation and benefits initiatives.

Managed occupational claims for Rona and Lowe's Canada, for over 5,000 employees located within the western provinces (BC, AB, SK and MB). Actively worked with the Asset Protection & Safety team along with store management and Human Resources to facilitate return to work plans, reduce workers' compensation costs and ensure all injury claims are properly investigated and effectively handled for the duration of the claim. Represented the employer for Appeals and submit objections in a professional manner regarding questionable claims.• Worked directly with the Sr. Health & Safety Advisor to create a training presentation for all stores on the High Risk program. Personally visited each store with senior management and Health and Safety to coach and provide guidance on their statistics and next steps for improvement.• Contributed to a decrease in lost time frequency of occupational claims; worked with store management and Asset Protection & Safety team to monitor activity of regions for performance indicators.• Partnered with stores to help them navigate new WCB legislation in AB; collaborated with management to implement permanent accommodations according to new Bill to fulfill obligation to reinstate.

Adjudicated and managed high volume caseload of complex short term disability, long term disability, and WCB files of union and non-union employees, in various regions across the country. Monitored WCB employer assessments, pursued cost relief, and determined grounds for appeals. Collaborated with business leaders to develop successful return to work plans that included modified duties and permanent accommodations. Developed and conducted training sessions to leadership groups on disability management practices, absenteeism awareness and injury prevention.• Successful in permanently accommodating and returning to full duties three long outstanding disability claim files: worked with business leaders, the WCB and other insurers to ensure the employees’ needs were met while simultaneously meeting the departments’ goals.• Improved and streamlined disability management processes by participating in, and contributing to, an in-depth analysis of existing disability management practices with the disability team.

Administered benefit and payroll programs to meet time sensitive deadlines. Completed semi-monthly and monthly benefit and payroll reports for benefits eligibility, net pay advances and leaves of absence; reviewed and analyzed reports for accuracy. Set up new employees, transfers, terminations, etc., using in-house HRIS.• Created and developed garnishment process and helped to build new onboarding training program for the Payroll group.• Coached and trained new hires, and was go-to person for questions on payroll and benefits processes from work peers.

Collaborated with corporate leadership on the implementation of recruitment strategies and HR initiatives; worked directly with HR Advisors to ensure leadership groups were fully supported. Handled full cycle recruitment process for management, including creating and submitting job postings, facilitating candidate interviews, conducting background checks, and presenting offer letters of employment to successful candidates.• Utilized Excel to manage and track vacancies for all corporate groups; met with corporate leadership on a monthly basis to discuss status of vacancies and the departments’ needs.• Created and maintained positions within VIP and contributed to the implementation of the VIP Hierarchy.