Employee Relations Manager

Your World Recruitment; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to oversee the sickness support function within a large healthcare organization. This role involves managing complex absence cases and providing guidance to senior managers. Ideal candidates will have a background in public sector or NHS environments and a strong understanding of employment law. The position requires onsite work 4 days a week, offering a pay rate of up to £26.16 per hour.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex sickness absence cases in large, unionised environments.
• Experience training and coaching senior managers in absence management.
• Willingness to work onsite in hospitals at least 4 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex sickness absence cases including long-term absence and phased returns.
• Provide high-level coaching and training to senior managers in managing absence effectively.
• Prepare reports on sickness trends and present to HR and leadership.

Skills

Managing complex sickness absence caseloads

Coaching and training managers

Employment law knowledge

Collaborating with trade unions

Job description

Band 7 – Employee Relations Manager (Sickness Support)

Job Summary :

As the Employee Relations Manager, you will lead the sickness support function, managing a team responsible for complex absence management cases across a large, unionised NHS organisation. This is a critical role requiring leadership in fast-paced environments, strategic coaching of senior managers, and direct engagement with operational leaders to reduce long-term absence and support organisational wellbeing.

Location : Croydon (4 days on site 1 day WFH)

Job Type : Temporary

Duration of booking : Expected to last 4 months with possible extension

Proposed start date : ASAP

Pay Rates : Up to £26.16 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days : 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Sector : Healthcare

Based : Office / Hospital

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead on complex sickness absence cases including long-term absence, phased returns, and reasonable adjustments.
• Provide high-level coaching and training to senior managers in managing absence effectively and lawfully.
• Collaborate closely with trade unions and HR Business Partners to ensure consistent policy application.
• Oversee a large and varied caseload while ensuring key performance indicators are met.
• Prepare and present reports to HR and operational leadership on sickness trends and interventions.
• Support improvement initiatives across employee wellbeing and sickness prevention.

Requirements :

• Proven experience managing complex sickness absence caseloads in large, unionised environments.
• Experience training and coaching managers in absence management.
• NHS or large public sector experience highly desirable.
• Ability to lead and influence at all levels with sound employment law knowledge.
• Willingness and flexibility to work onsite in hospitals or community settings at least 4 days per week.

Job reference number : YW-GW1S