Employee Relations Specialist

Job Purpose:

The role plays a critical role in fostering a positive workplace environment by ensuring fair and effective resolution of employee related concerns. This role is responsible for managing employee relations cases, conducting investigations, advising on policy, and supporting leadership in implementing best HR practices that align with Company objectives. This will include engaging with stakeholders across various business functions to promote a culture of fairness, transparency, compliance and feed into employee engagement. Additionally, the role involves mitigating risks, supporting workplace conflict resolution and ensuring compliance with UAE labor law and company policies.

Key Result Areas:

• Collaborate with HR Business Partners to coach the line to manage workplace conflict resolution through the introduction of an effective mediation service.
• Identify priorities from corporate and departmental plans, translate business requirements into effective ER practices and deliver integrated people solutions aligned to business objectives.
• Provide expert ER advice and guidance to managers and staff on employee matters, dealing with complex casework, objective investigations, attendance and employee relations issues (coaching, counselling, disciplinary actions).
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Develop, implement and promote initiatives to support employee engagement and wellbeing across the organisation, enabling managers to be more effective and encourage greater responsibility for their employees.
• Drive initiatives that support the development of a culture in which individuals and groups take responsibility for employee engagement and welfare practices.
• Use HR trends and metrics in partnership with the HR functions to recommend and develop employee relation solutions, programs and policies to support resolutions and preventative measures.
• Ensure documentation of disciplinary and grievance-based actions accurately and prepare reports of findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Collaborate with other departments and oversee HR workshops and communications to provide line managers and employees with information on the latest Labour law and HR policy-based changes.
• Build relationships with all employees in order to foster open communication to provide support in relation to understanding Company policies & procedures.

Job Context:

This job holder operates within the framework of HR practices but needs to keep up to date of factors that could affect current practices, employee retention and policy.

Knowledge, Skills & Minimum Experience:

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or HR, CIPD is desirable.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience leading employee relations strategies and managing the provision of services related to employee relations and welfare.
• Experience gained within a large organisation and must have led a number of company-wide ER initiatives and services.

Skills:

• Ability to communicate clearly, accurately and succinctly, while adjusting to audience needs.
• Strong judgment and decision making skills, careful when evaluating the risks of alternatives.
• Strong business partnership and influencing skills.
• Excellent negotiation and persuasion skills. Ability to effectively and creatively challenge people, situations and current thinking.
• High analytical and sound business judgment and ability to multi-task under pressure.
• Achievement oriented and problem solving capabilities with a proactive approach.
• Flexible and tolerant of changes in methods, approaches and objectives.