Leigh Topping
Chattanooga,TN
Summary
Driving programs and work streams that create an exceptional employee experience and assist HR leadership in employee related strategies. Strong understanding of HR workflows, HRIS, legal issues, onboarding programs for companies with 400-800 employees.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Kordsa USA
11.2024 - 01.2025
- Partnered with management teams during salary negotiations to provide guidance on budgetary constraints while maintaining employee satisfaction levels.
- Reduced manual data entry errors with the implementation of automated payroll systems.
- Supported annual open enrollment process, providing 400+ employees with clear information about benefit options and changes.
- Reconciled monthly benefits invoices, identifying discrepancies and working towards a resolution with vendors.
- Optimized workflow efficiency by creating detailed procedural documentation for the Payroll Benefits Specialist role.
HR Business Partner & Safety Specialist
Chattanooga Bakery
07.2024 - 11.2024
- Managed conflict resolution processes for 200+ employees to maintain a positive work environment and resolve employee disputes effectively.
- Partnered with legal counsel to ensure compliance with employment regulations, reducing potential liability risks for the organization.
- Updated training processes by reviewing existing documentation, leveraging feedback from associates and working with legal and compliance teams.
- Performed calculations in overtime, vacation, and sick hours to provide accurate data to payroll processing database.
HR Generalist
Gestamp Chattanooga Chassis
11.2023 - 03.2024
- Supported a group of 435+
- Recruiting (hiring Manufacturing Professionals, Managers and hourly workers)
- Ensured all pre-employment requirements, such as interviews, drug tests, background checks, and reference checks were completed in a timely manner
- Established/maintained communication with management and hourly employees
- Conducted effective onboarding with comprehensive benefits coverage
- Assisted with open enrollment and provided one on one training
Plant HR Manager/Safety Coordinator
Techniplas South
03.2020 - 10.2023
- Company Overview: formerly Lyle Industries Tier 1 Auto Supplier for BMW and Mercedes
- Key trusted HR Business Partner to multi-site plants located in Dalton, GA, Spartanburg, SC and Vance, AL - Provided strategic support across HR functional areas, liaising between HR and business/site to ensure that programs remained globally consistent and locally relevant/compliant
- Worked closely with managers to support talent decisions, provided coaching throughout the employee life cycle, handled difficult situations, terminations, performance improvement plans, guided leaders through performance management and preparing performance/compensation conversations
- Worked closely with VP to incorporate effective rollout of HR programs such as Paycom payroll system, HR analysis, Reporting performance management and merit administration
- Improved the effectiveness of production teams by ensuring that HR strategies and plans were translated into specific actions to obtain tangible results
- Planned, organized and managed all HR activities of the HR Department - typically managed staff of 4 direct reports
- Maintained our workers compensation, FMLA, STD, LTD, employment and grievance processes and records
- Administered plant safety program to maintain safe working conditions
- Developed and monitored safety rules, regulations in accordance with plant, group and corporate guidelines, and in compliance with governmental regulations and laws in occupational safety and health
- Investigated all injuries and property damage, near misses and lost workdays within plants, prepared required reports including OSHA monthly and yearly reporting
- Reviewed time records for 500+ employees to verify accuracy, uploaded time records into Paycom, made necessary adjustments
- Oversaw legal compliance with federal, state, and local laws
- Formerly Lyle Industries Tier 1 Auto Supplier for BMW and Mercedes
Assistant HR Manager
Hostess Brands
07.2019 - 02.2020
- Company Overview: Union facility with 700+ employees
- Liaison between management, union steward, employees on conflict resolution, grievances, alleviate confusion and helped employees accurately interpret compensation and benefits
- Reviewed existing policies and procedures, made recommendations for enhancing recruitment, hiring process and talent management
- Trained management team on increasing employee knowledge through training, monitoring and directing employees in the application of best practices and regulatory protocols required in the food industry
- Contributed to annual performance appraisals by working closely with supervisors to achieve consistency and compliance within established protocols
- Assisted in the launch of company wide HR strategies, practices, and compensation policies to drive departmental and business objectives
- Union facility with 700+ employees
HR Generalist
TNM - Total Network Manufacturing
02.2019 - 07.2019
- Company Overview: j.v
- Faurecia formerly Chattanooga Seating Tier 1 Auto Supplier for Volkswagen
- Conducted recruitment efforts for all exempt and non-exempt personnel, temporary employees, conducted new hire orientation, wrote job descriptions and posted online
- Maintained human resource information system records and compiled daily, weekly and monthly reports from database
- Collaborated with leaders across the company to plan and execute ongoing trainings and talent development workshops
- J.v
- Faurecia formerly Chattanooga Seating Tier 1 Auto Supplier for Volkswagen
HR Generalist
Intersign Corporation
01.2015 - 02.2019
- Spearheaded recruitment program, enabling competitive hiring practices, resulting in higher morale and productivity and reducing $58k in annual hiring expenses
- Handled all aspects of work performance monitoring, trained supervisor on best way to handle discussions with employees
- Implemented employee recognition program
- Created online application system
- Prepared and provided equity, sexual harassment, safety and ethic training 2 times a year
- Conducted annual surveys, analyzed data and provided recommendation for wage adjustments across production to remain competitive
HR Generalist
Team 3 Logistics
03.2012 - 10.2015
- Company Overview: Schnellecke Logistics - Tier 1 Auto Supplier at Volkswagen Chattanooga
- Supported HR staff by assisting with new hire orientations and monthly departmental meetings, entering employees into system
- Assisted with recruitment by posting job ads, scheduling interviews, and drafting offer letters
- Hosted and organized onsite flu shot clinic for employees and job fairs
- Processed background checks on new employees
- Schnellecke Logistics - Tier 1 Auto Supplier at Volkswagen Chattanooga
Recruiting Manager
Integrity Staffing
07.2011 - 03.2012
- Lead staff of 25 recruiters for Amazon's startup project in Charleston and Chattanooga - team interviewed over 4k candidates and hired 2k within 60 days
- Responsible for maintaining 100% compliance in recruiting and placement of qualified candidates
- Trained operations management team on workers compensation, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, sexual harassment, safety, disability awareness and legal hiring/termination practices
- Investigated allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, and unfair employment practices
Education
BS - Business Administration
Lee University
Cleveland, TN05.1989
Skills
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Merit Administration
- Career Development
- Training Curriculum
- Annual Enrollment
- Change Management
- Succession Planning
- Talent Review
- Investigations
- EHS/Safety Management
- Events and initiatives
- Unemployment Hearings
- Microsoft Office Suites
- Attendance on Demand
- ADP Workforce Now
- Paycom
- Plex Manufacturing
- BambooHR
- Workday
- SAP
- APS
- Salesforce
- Oracle
- CJUS
Timeline
Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Kordsa USA
11.2024 - 01.2025
HR Business Partner & Safety Specialist
Chattanooga Bakery
07.2024 - 11.2024
HR Generalist
Gestamp Chattanooga Chassis
11.2023 - 03.2024
Plant HR Manager/Safety Coordinator
Techniplas South
03.2020 - 10.2023
Assistant HR Manager
Hostess Brands
07.2019 - 02.2020
HR Generalist
TNM - Total Network Manufacturing
02.2019 - 07.2019
HR Generalist
Intersign Corporation
01.2015 - 02.2019
HR Generalist
Team 3 Logistics
03.2012 - 10.2015
Recruiting Manager
Integrity Staffing
07.2011 - 03.2012
BS - Business Administration
Lee University
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