Karen Schlemmer Email & Phone Number

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

United States

Plan and direct implementation and administration of employee benefit and retirement programs for 4000 employees in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico* Design and implementation of all benefit plans while managing the administration of these plans within the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico keeping in mind the corporate culture and company strategic direction* Provide assistance and guidance to the management team as it relates to benefit programs by analyzing current benefit programs, researching best practices, determining areas for improvement related to better utilization/cost effectiveness, and recommending design, budget, and implementation strategies* Design and drive the Open Enrollment process including communications, premium/rate setting and updates, vendor management, and any other oversight as needed* Participate in the preparation and management of the benefits budget and forecast of benefit expenses including annual budget accruals for IBNR and retirement benefits* Responsible for all annual compliance including but not limited to; Non Discrimination Testing, 5500 filings, ACA reporting, audit process, etc.* Lead, coach and develop all benefits team members to deliver the highest quality and customer service to all of our HR partners, employees and vendors* Develop and document policies and procedures to streamline processes and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements as well as updates based on changing laws and regulations

Cincinnati, Oh

Direct Manager and liaison between operational teams and clients.* Provide superior account customer service and administration* Coordinate the resolution of business issues with clients, or their assignees with the customer and their advisors* Identify profitable growth and business opportunities* Analyze client financial and utilization data and industry trends/benchmarks to determine success of client's current benefit strategy* Review and present client reports

Cincinnati, Ohio

*Assist current members and new applicants with health plan enrollment*Service, product, issue resolution, and navigational advice to consumer*Assist consumer in understanding benefits, cost of care and how to select the right benefit products

Cincinnati, Ohio

Managed and administered policies, practices, benefit plans, and company subject matter expert: HR policies, medical plans, STD/LTD, FMLA, HSA, 401k and Life/Voluntary Life covering approximately 4,000 lives in the US and Canada. *Served as Benefits Manager/HR Business Partner to CHRO by partnering with 14 sites across US to support 4,000 employees in compliance, HR policies, benefits administration, and employer branding initiatives.*Worked with leadership and 10 HR professionals to support SOX audit and process improvement initiatives*Responsible for partnerships with brokerage firms and 10+vendors holding them to SLAs and budgetary compliance*Traveled as HR Business Partner to regional offices and locations to support senior leadership and partner with leaders and employees to develop talent, succession plans, training, goals and objectives.*Work with counsel to ensure regulatory compliance with ERISA, FLSA, ADA, 5500 filing and other legal matters*Chose vendors, restructured benefit plans, managed programming of new benefit admin system, created and conducted all open enrollment meetings and audited enrollments

West Chester, Ohio

Provide oversight, compliance and guidance to over 150 clients encompassing 6000+ employees. *Worked with client management on difficult employee relations issues, terminations, performance management, succession planning and mass layoff legal compliance*Worked with client management to create and institute policies and procedures*Created and updated Employer Handbooks for clients as well as ECP staff*Supervised in-house payroll, unemployment coordinator and administrative staff*Operated and managed owner’s secondary business. Tripled the client base during my tenure*Collaborated with TPA and Auditors on 5500 audit and filing*Transitioned over 1000 employee/client accounts, totaling more than 2 million dollars to 401k investment company

Cincinnati, Ohio

Lead all human resources functions, benefits, management and leadership for a 70+ employee manufacturing facility.*Responsible for all employees benefit plans to include medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD/FMLA and Life Insurance* Performed all investigations, approved or denied worker’s compensation claims, collaborated with OSHA on issues Occupational Health facilities to return injured employee’s to work*Supported line supervisors on all employee relations matters, all performance improvement plans and terminations*Managed the talent life cycle to include recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding and retaining all personnel.*Performed all payroll functions including enrolling new hires into the Paychex system, auditing and reporting.

Loveland, Oh

Managed and administer 10+ benefit plans for 100 separate companies encompassing more than 4000 lives. Benefits to include:*Medical, Dental, Vision and multiple PBM providers*Enroll, terminate and make changes for QLEs for all companies*Liaison between benefit providers and clients*Audit all plans to ensure premiums match enrollment counts as well as enrollment level matched premium amounts *STD/LTD, Life and AD&D, HSAs, 401k administration *Flexible Benefits/Cafeteria plans*Resolve discrepancies and issues between providers and clients*Enroll, terminate and make changes for all clients

Cincinnati, Ohio

Manage all human resource and office management leadership functions up to and including:*Strategically improved absenteeism by building positive employee relations.*Determine appropriate methods of recruiting, coordinate activities dealing with hiring advertisement and employment agencies, aligning with managers to determine employment requirements.*Developed, administered and conduct management training programs.*Saved $62,000 in reduction in workers’ compensation claims from previous year.*Developed, administered and conducted management training on the effective implementation and administration of the Corporate EEO/Affirmative Action Plan.*Successfully avoided several union attempts.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Responsible for the continuous improvements of a modern, team oriented, full service HumanResource and Office Management departments including: *25% improvement in contractual timeliness of grievance answers resulting in improved labor relations and operational efficiencies.*Eliminated lost work day safety incidents with savings of $55,000.*Created a 32% reduction in intermittent FMLA usage by closely monitoring medical leave of absence forms.*Tactically handled labor relations issues and advised managers on a wide range of HR and employee matters.*Generated significant savings via 5s efforts in the personnel records warehouse.*Conducted workplace investigations using problem solving techniques.*Provided 3rd Step Answers to union grievances, and Appeal/Arbitration Statements.