Specialist, Employee and Labour Relations

Ontario Health; Old Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to health and wellness as an Employee and Labour Relations Specialist. This role involves providing essential support for various Employee Relations functions, including event coordination, policy development, and case management. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, maintain records, and ensure compliance while fostering a positive work environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the organizational culture and improve health outcomes across Ontario. If you're passionate about making a difference in the health sector and possess strong communication and analytical skills, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage

Health care spending account

Premium defined benefit pension plan

Three personal days and two float days annually

Three weeks’ vacation to start

Career development opportunities

Collaborative team culture

Wellness program

Hybrid working model

Participation in Communities of Inclusion

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in employee/labour relations required.
• Completion of a relevant college diploma or degree is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for Employee Relations functions and case management.
• Organize and schedule in-person and virtual team meetings.
• Assist with grievance processes and collective bargaining preparation.

Skills

Human Resources Management

Employee Relations

Labour Relations

Event Organization

Research Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Customer Service

Confidentiality

Education

College Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Administrative Studies

Labour Relations Diploma/Degree

CHRP Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams)

Workday

Job description

Specialist, Employee and Labour Relations

Apply locations Toronto, ON time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: January 27, 2025 (17 days left to apply) job requisition id R108300

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value. How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity, humility and care.

What Ontario Health offers:

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day
• Health care spending account
• Premium defined benefit pension plan
• Three personal days and two float days annually
• Three weeks’ vacation to start (for individual contributors), increasing to four weeks after two years
• Career development opportunities
• A collaborative values-based team culture
• A wellness program
• A hybrid working model
• Participation in Communities of Inclusion

Want to make a difference in your career? Consider this opportunity.

Responsible for providing support for a wide range of Employee Relations functions including but not limited to planning/coordinating in-person and virtual events, updating process changes, document management, and researching legal statutes, policy and performance management, labour cases/evidence and collective bargaining.

In addition to day-to-day support with the inquiries from the organization, the Employee and Labour Relations Specialist provides ongoing support in the development, implementation and improvement of new and existing processes, as it relates to the full continuum of the Employee Relations and Labour Relations Unionized environment as well as the support to focused processes in the Investigation/mediation, Performance Management including Performance Improvement Plans, Performance Development Planning and People Leader daily operational support.

The Specialist, Labour Relations brings a good understanding of the full range of HR disciplines, exceptional communication skills, the ability to thrive in a dynamic, changing environment and a passion for supporting and enabling Ontario Health’s organizational programs.

Here is what you will be doing:

• Acts as a first point of contact for clients seeking Employee and labour relations support and forwarding to appropriate staff member for action (Case Management coordination).
• Lead development, implementation, administration and improvements of various ER/LR programs and initiatives in support of Ontario Health’s organizational programs, in conjunction with the Lead/Director.
• Drafts, edits and/or assists with correspondence, presentations, spreadsheets, and the development of templates on own initiative or according to general instructions.
• Assists in the development and revision of Employee/labour relations policies and procedures.
• Organizes and schedules team meetings, both in person, virtual and hybrid, either leveraging audiovisual equipment, or setting up meeting facilities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as End User Computing, Facilities, Payroll, Strategic Sourcing, Internal Audit, Legal and Finance Teams to provide administrative support of delivering Employee/Labour Relations related programs and services.
• Maintains hard copy and electronic records including developing and managing filing systems (i.e., SharePoint) and ensuring compliance with internal privacy and retention requirements.
• Supports all facets of investigation/mediation process, Performance Management process’ with People Leaders including Performance Improvement Plans, Performance Development Plans (PDP) and individual employee relations case management, including note taking, coordination of information and overall support to the Lead/HRBP/Director responsible for the file.
• Assists with grievance processes by corresponding with union officials/management representatives, arbitrators, and scheduling hearings; prepares initial drafts of settlement agreements, memorandum of agreements and other related correspondence and documentation if required to support the.
• Assists with collective bargaining preparation including notifying relevant employer bargaining team of bargaining dates/location.
• Conducts research and environmental scans on legal statutes, labour cases, and collective bargaining in other jurisdictions to support the bargaining team. Drafts proposals, spreadsheets, and other documents to support employer priorities. Provides administrative support throughout the negotiations process.
• Post ratification, edits collective agreements and associated documentation based on terms of settlement and forwards to Director and Lead for review. Drafts briefing and communication material outlining new terms and related implementation dates.
• Maintains working relationships across the enterprise to relay information, communicate requirements, ensure timelines are adhered to, and to follow-up on requests.
• Tracks all labour relations activities and provides weekly and ad hoc reporting for the team. Analyzes activity and identifies and reports on trends.
• Exhibits confidentiality, discretion and superior judgement regarding all matters conducted by the labour relations team and safeguards the confidentiality of personal information, administrative records, files, and communications.
• Conduct regular audits of ER/LR processes, records, and documentation to identify compliance gaps; report audit findings to Director, Labour Relations.
• Assist the Learning and Development Team with logistics and support the administration requirements of various workshops and training sessions for Labour Relations education.
• Uses a continuous improvement lens to analyze, identify and recommend changes to internal procedures.
• Participates in and provides support for labour relations projects and special initiatives as required.
• Generate and maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records.
• Generate ER/LR reports for HRBP Directors and people leaders as requested.
• Supports the administration and coordination of other projects and initiatives, including but not limited to updating process improvement initiatives, compensation activities and Workday configuration changes as it relates to labour functions.
• Participate in ER/LR projects that enhance processes, systems, and overall HR efficiency.
• Remain current on related laws, regulations, and practices that govern HR practice.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality pertaining to all HR-related matters.
• Maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

• Completion of a college diploma or bachelor's degree in administrative studies, business administration, health administration, or recognized equivalent.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of related work experience in a Employee/labour relations environment.
• Experience in organizing events virtually and in person is an asset.
• Experience in Workday is an asset.
• Labour Relations Diploma/Degree an asset.
• CHRP is an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Basic knowledge of human resources management and employee and labour relations principles, theories, and concepts.
• General knowledge of relevant performance management principles, legislation and best practices in the Employee Relations setting.
• General knowledge of collective agreements and the collective bargaining process.
• Ability to maintain the integrity of confidential information.
• Research skills to conduct research and environmental scans to assist labour relations activities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision, to be self-directed, to take initiative without direction, and to use time efficiently by effectively prioritizing work.
• Ability to interpret Collective Agreement language and applicable laws/statutes, policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with employees, managers, and union representatives, while demonstrating a high level of cooperation and mutual respect.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage work to meet deadlines and manage multiple competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to liaise with all levels across the enterprise.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Strong customer service with the ability to engage stakeholders and ensure their needs are met and followed up on.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams) and other internal applications, as required.

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Employment Type: Permanent Full time

Contract Length: N/A

Salary Band: Band 5

External Application Deadline Date: January 26, 2025

All applicants must be a resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; members of Black and racialized groups; 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary individuals; and people living with disabilities.

Ontario Health is an accessible employer, and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process. If you require a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email [e-mail] and a member of the team will connect with you within 48 hours.