Terrence R. Tennione
Kennesaw,GA
Summary
Highly motivated Human Resources Professional offering 18+ years of progressive experience, with an expertise in business analytics, “people” strategy, employee relations, corporate and employee benefits. Collaborative individual with expertise in providing exemplary service regarding benefits support. Multitasking Benefits Specialist knowledgeable in state and federal regulations and maintaining employee confidentiality.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Benefits Specialist
Cox Communications
03.2023 - Current
- Provides day-to-day functional guidance to Employee Service Center Specialists
- Conducts trainings for new specialists and people leaders
- Performs leave audits and reporting to ensure quality and consistency
- Works with leave manager on leave exceptions and denial reconsiderations
- Handles complex leave types such as military, workers comp and transitions to LTD
- Manages full life cycle of Leave management, partnering with 3rd party provider for FMLA and Disability
- Maintains employee benefit records and prepares documents necessary for implementing leave benefit coverage
- Ensures compliance with all legal requirements of employee leave benefit programs
- Advises employees on eligibility and claims procedures for FMLA and disability
- Processes return to work documentation in Workday from employees returning from Leave of Absence (LOA)
- Researches, resolves and responds to escalations from HR Service Center regarding escalated leave inquiries
- Interprets and communicates HR policies and procedures, both verbally and in writing
- Communication channels include telephone, written inquiries, e-mail, or other technological interfaces
- Utilizes case management and knowledge application for research and documentation to update tickets for inquiries and issues when answering questions regarding leaves in a proactive and effective manner
- Participates in team or departmental meetings, attends weekly MetLife calls, and individual meetings with Manager concerning own job performance
- Obtains and reviews updated medical evidence of reason for leave upon receipt; reviewed guidelines for eligibility resulting in accurate eligibility decisions
- Primary point of contact for phone, emails, and mail communications with employees, management, and human resources staff regarding all leaves of absence and related processes
- Maintains accurate records of employee leaves in full legal compliance
- Provides highest level of customer service with client companies and employees, and responsive support throughout LOA process
- Oversee integration of leaves (i.e., Workman's compensation with FMLA) and integration with other functions (benefits during LOA, payroll, etc.)
- Process payroll, including stop and continue pay as needed for medical approvals and extensions, and create Off-cycle/Online checks when necessary
- Coordinate and direct employee relations programs and functions at each location including recognition and award programs
- Understand key elements and implications of current collective bargaining agreements.
Employee Benefits Manager
AmWins Inc
07.2022 - 03.2023
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key benefit stakeholders across organization (Payroll, Finance, Legal, HR) as well as external partners to support benefits administration.
- Ensure timely publication of accurate plan documents.
- Collaborate with benefits broker on plan renewals, RFPs and changes or additions to plan offerings.
- Review carrier and vendor contracts in detail and obtain Legal input prior to execution.
- Provide analysis of benefits and costs for acquisitions as needed.
- Provide census data to carriers for acquisitions as needed.
- Draft and ensure distribution of all communications related to annual Open Enrollment
- Partner with benefits broker to update Benefit Guide annually as needed.
- Provide relevant communications regarding benefits to Marketing for publication to employees.
- Partner with HRIS to ensure plans are set up in system accurately based on plan design.
- Oversee year end new enrollments for Health Savings Account
- Complete or direct completion of enrollments/changes that will not automatically populate in carrier systems via connection files.
- Monitor claims activity on regular basis and provide information to Leadership and Finance as needed.
- Oversaw open enrollment processes during 4th quarter.
- Administered 200 salary surveys to identify consistency with market standards.
VP, Employee Relations Consultant
Bank of America
03.2014 - 07.2022
- Leave of Absence Analyst: research, resolution coordination and leave of absence specialist briefings.
- Survivor support experience: consult with survivor to understand benefit eligibility, and benefit claim/pay process.
- Process development/improvement experience.
- Unauthorized absence experience.
- Interpret and enforce policies and procedures, handbook statements and core values.
- Work closely with operations team and managers to ensure consistency throughout segments.
- Consult and provide guidance to managers regarding performance management and conflict resolution.
- Recommend performance improvement plants and assist with completion and delivery of documents.
- Review ethical complaints, partner with necessary parties to research and course of action.
- Collaborate with business partners and talent acquisition team to drive BOA vision.
- Work with legal counsel to provide facts and documentation when responding to charges.
- Assist security team when investigating suspicious activity by providing information on previous occurrences, documentation or assisting with security interviews.
- Determine areas of opportunity for area to reduce risk and turnover.
- Partner closely with leave administration team and third-party vendor to determine action on colleagues requesting leave of absences.
- Develop, interpret, and recommend policies, procedures, and courses of action including employee appeal procedures and development and performance plan toolsets.
- Manage employee issues, resolutions and concerns including compliance proficiency, employment law, and interaction with legal counsel, policy interpretation and investigations
- Interpret and apply understanding of corporate policies and practices, employment law, and other regulations to provide advice, guidance, or clarification for Employee Relations inquiries
- Conduct HR investigations to include gathering and analyzing facts, applying relevant laws, policies, and past practice to reach conclusions, recommended management actions
- Will partner with internal Legal, Compliance/Privacy, and other internal investigative bodies, as necessary
- Maintains required documentation, including intake and investigative notes, supporting documents and final reports
- Administer unemployment program, files responses and attends hearings, track, and monitors outcomes, and provides feedback to HR partners as necessary.
- Ensure HR compliance with relevant regulatory requirements aligns with current law and other requirements, manage changes in regulations through company practices procedures, and employee communication, e.g., required HR postings
- Coordinate employee relations programs to ensure compliance with policies and practices
- Research and respond to employee questions, concerns, and grievances/appeals.
- Ensure employee relations records (case management) are maintained and retrievable; builds and manages library of consistent Employee Relations practices.
- Support managers with employee development by providing guidance on coaching, counseling, and performance management
- Collaborate with HR Business Partners and Consultants concerning employee relations matters and provide insight to HRBPs/managers on development of corrective actions and implementation of performance improvement plans.
- Track, report and analyze case trends and provide regular reporting and recommendations to aligned HR Business Partner or Consultant
- Develop, communicate, and implement ER programs, policies and procedures and identify trends to expand strategies to foster positive employee relations.
- Provide feedback and insight into employee engagement programs to reinforce cultural values and mission.
Payroll Analyst
Merck & Co., Inc
01.2011 - 08.2014
- Manage payroll process for Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, and Worker's Compensation
- Work closely with 3rd party vendor in order to track STD approvals, denials, and extensions.
- Calculate State Disability Insurance, Worker’s Compensation, and set up adjustments to deduct offsets where needed.
- Research Leave of Absence related issues within Remedy case tracking system and provide resolution to employees.
- Update vacation, personal, and sick accrual balances in PeopleSoft
- Provide LTD offset reports to Cigna for processing.
- Participate in weekly meetings to provide updates and suggest opportunities for process improvements.
- Provide and test scenarios for UAT testing for multiple projects during implementations into PeopleSoft.
- Worked closely with associates to ensure that all relevant completed medical documentation is submitted for timely review.
- Maintains appropriate contact with all associates on leave and coordinates all aspects of return to work for associates on leave.
- Interpreted and administered leave programs and policies in accordance with applicable federal and state employment law
- Ensured workers’ compensation program is managed in accordance with applicable OSHA and worker’s compensation laws.
- Administered all aspects of leave and workers’ compensation programs
- Provided extensive case management and coordinated administrative aspects of the cases and claims
- Conducted/coordinated investigations into all reported workers’ compensation claims
- Managed all administrative aspects of leave and workers’ compensation claims, to include tracking hours used/taken and working closely with the HR Service Center and Payroll to ensure that pay for associates is accurate and correct
- Partnered with all HR business partners on all leave cases and workers’ compensation claims
- Meets regularly with HR to review claims’ status and develops strategies for resolution
- Managed STD programs and vendor relationships
- Ensures that STD claims are coordinated with FMLA or general medical cases.
Education
Strayer University
2019
Skills
- Workday
- Service Now
- Salesforce
- ACA Standards Knowledge
- Ledger Updating
- Employee Benefits Laws
- PeopleSoft
- HR Compliance
- SAP
- ADP
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Service Quality
Affiliations
Crisis Assistance Ministries: provide ongoing support and volunteer hours with CAM’s food pantry and shelter.
Timeline
Lead Benefits Specialist
Cox Communications
03.2023 - Current
Employee Benefits Manager
AmWins Inc
07.2022 - 03.2023
VP, Employee Relations Consultant
Bank of America
03.2014 - 07.2022
Payroll Analyst
Merck & Co., Inc
01.2011 - 08.2014
Strayer University
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