Employee Relations Business Partner

Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Employee Relations Business Partner to enhance workplace harmony and manage employee grievances. This pivotal role involves developing strategies that foster positive relationships, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and providing guidance to managers and employees. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, along with a deep understanding of HR policies. Join a supportive and inclusive environment where your expertise will contribute to a high-performance culture, making a real impact on employee satisfaction and engagement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in employee relations or similar role.
• Strong understanding of HR policies and employment practices.
• Ability to conduct impartial investigations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement employee relations strategies.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and advise management.
• Investigate and resolve employee grievances.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Conflict Resolution

Employment Law Knowledge

Problem-Solving

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Professional certifications in employee relations

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

We are currently recruiting for an Employee Relations Business Partner to join our HR team. The role will report into our HR Director.

The role

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining positive employee relations within our firm. Your primary focus will be on fostering a productive and harmonious work environment, managing employee grievances, and promoting fair and consistent application of policies and procedures. This role requires strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, along with a proven understanding of employment law and regulations.

Main Duties

• Develop and implement employee relations strategies and programs that foster positive relationships and a productive work environment.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and regulations, staying updated with changes and advising management on employee relations matters.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and employees on HR policies, procedures, and employment practices.
• Investigate and resolve employee grievances, conducting thorough and impartial investigations in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with management to address performance-related issues and develop appropriate corrective action plans.
• Mediate and facilitate discussions between employees and management to resolve conflicts and promote effective communication.
• Provide coaching and training to managers on employee relations matters, conflict resolution, and performance management.
• Develop and deliver employee relations training programs to enhance understanding and awareness among employees.
• Analyse employee relations data and trends to identify areas of improvement and recommend proactive solutions.
• Review exit interviews and analyse feedback to identify potential areas of concern and recommend improvements.
• Partner with HR Executives, the D+I Manager and management to ensure consistent interpretation and application of HR policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with HR Executives, the D+I Manager and management to develop and implement disciplinary procedures and processes.
• Monitor employee morale and engagement levels, proposing initiatives to improve employee satisfaction.
• Stay updated with industry best practices and employment law, ensuring compliance and promoting a positive work culture.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee relations documentation and records.
• Assist with generalist HR matters as and when required.

Role Requirements

• Proven experience as an Employee Relations Business Partner or in a similar employee relations role.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law, regulations, and best practices.
• Strong understanding of HR policies, procedures, and employment practices.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with employees and management at all levels.
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills to address and resolve employee grievances and conflicts.
• Ability to conduct thorough and impartial investigations, maintaining confidentiality and integrity.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills to analyse complex employee relations issues and recommend appropriate actions.
• Strong organisational and time management skills to handle multiple cases and prioritise work effectively.
• Proficiency in using HRIS systems and other relevant HR tools.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information with professionalism.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business administration, or a related field is advantageous.
• Professional certifications in employee relations or mediation are beneficial.
• Experience in managing employee relations within a diverse workforce.
• Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in employment law and industry best practices.

Other information

HR Contact

If you would like further information on the role or require accommodations to make your application please contact [e-mail].

At Shepherd and Wedderburn we strive to provide a supportive, inclusive and high performance working environment, where everyone feels they belong. Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our business and we therefore welcome applicants from different backgrounds to all levels of the organisation. To foster inclusivity we particularly encourage applications from those who may be from underrepresented groups, including candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, people with disabilities or who are neurodivergent and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

GDPR

Shepherd and Wedderburn is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information that we collect as a “data controller”. The information provided by you will be processed in accordance with our GDPR Privacy Notice for Applicants and Work Experience Students. If you are successful in obtaining paid employment with us, we will hold your information in accordance with our Privacy Notice and Data Retention Policy for Personnel, which will be provided to you at the relevant time.

We will process the information you provide solely for the purpose of evaluating your application for employment. The information will be disclosed to the interview panel (if relevant), your line manager (if appointed), and Human Resources staff members. We may contact any references provided for the purposes of discussing your application, and will ask your permission before doing so.

If you provide any information deemed to be “special category” information under the General Data Protection Regulation, we may use this as follows:

• We will use information about your disability status to provide appropriate adjustments to the interview process.
• We will use any information provided in our diversity monitoring form about your race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender identity, gender expression, social mobility background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, any disability information, age, and marital/civil partnership status to ensure meaningful equal opportunity monitoring and reporting. Any analysis of this data will be done on an anonymous basis.

Should your application be unsuccessful, the information provided will be deleted within 1 year of a decision not to progress your application.

If you have any further questions about how we process and store your information, or your rights in relation to this, please refer to our GDPR Privacy Notice for Applicants and Work Experience Students (available at www.shepwedd.com/careers/working-with-us/privacy-notice)