Employee Relations Manager

T & T Supermarket; Markham; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supermarket chain is seeking an Employee Relations Manager responsible for managing employee relations across multiple locations in Ontario and Quebec. This role involves conducting investigations, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and supporting a respectful workplace culture. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in employee relations, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in both English and Chinese.

Benefits

Biannual discretionary bonus

Life / AD&D insurance

Long Term Disabilities

Extended health / dental / vision care

Paid annual / sick / marriage / bereavement leave

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of employee relations experience in a retail environment.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and workplace policies in Ontario and Quebec.
• Chinese language proficiency is mandatory for communication and investigations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations into employee relations cases such as harassment and misconduct.
• Provide fair recommendations based on evidence and investigations.
• Collaborate with management to resolve complex employee relations issues.

Skills

Employee relations experience

Knowledge of employment law

Analytical skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Report-writing skills

Bilingual in Chinese and English

Education

5 years of employee relations experience

Paralegal / labor law background

Job description

Reporting to the Associate Director, Human Resources, the Employee Relations Manager holds the responsibility of managing employee relations cases across multiple supermarket locations in Ontario and Quebec. Travel to Quebec stores is occasional. The Employee Relations Manager collaborates closely with store leadership and HR teams to make informed decisions, including disciplinary actions up to terminations, while maintaining compliance with relevant employment laws and company policies. This role plays a critical function in fostering a respectful, legally compliant, and high-integrity workplace culture.

Major Responsibilities

• Conduct impartial investigations into employee relations cases such as harassment, bullying, misconduct, integrity breaches, and other workplace issues.
• Collect and assess evidence through interviews, documentation, and incident reviews; document findings with clarity and legal defensibility.
• Provide consistent, fair, and evidence-based recommendations on outcomes and corrective actions, including progressive discipline or termination.
• Collaborate with Store Management and HR management to guide appropriate, legally compliant resolution of complex ER issues.
• Monitor ER trends and proactively identify opportunities for policy improvement and risk mitigation.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable employment legislation, Human Rights legislation, labor relations and regulatory changes in Ontario and Quebec; identify their impact and recommend updates to company policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of all investigations and related documentation.
• Travel to store locations in Ontario and occasionally in Quebec as needed to support investigations and employee relations activities on-site.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of employee relations experience or paralegal / labor law background, ideally within a retail or supermarket environment.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, human rights legislation, labour relations and workplace policies applicable in Ontario (and Quebec, where relevant).
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing Employee Relations trends, identifying risks, and proactively developing solutions.
• Proven ability to make sound recommendations based on investigation findings and legal frameworks.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication, interviewing, and report-writing skills.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in handling confidential matters.
• Proficiency in spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) and English is mandatory.

Chinese language proficiency is required for this role, as a portion of our workforce primarily communicates in Chinese(Mandarine or Cantonese). The ability to speak and understand Chinese is essential for conducting thorough workplace investigations, interviews, and addressing employee relations matters effectively. This ensures clear communication, accurate information gathering, and supports a fair and respectful process for all employees.

Employee Benefits

• Biannual discretionary bonus
• Life / AD&D insurance
• Long Term Disabilities
• Extended health / dental / vision care
• Paid annual / sick / marriage / bereavement leave