Employee Relations Manager UK&I

Sherwin-Williams; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global company is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to manage employee relations activities and ensure a positive work environment. This role involves addressing employee concerns, conflict resolution, and supporting HR strategies. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree, 5+ years of relevant experience, and the ability to travel up to 40% of the time. Competitive compensation and various benefits are offered.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Company car

Generous company contributed pension

Career growth opportunities

Access to Sherwin Academy for continuous learning

Inclusive wellbeing programmes

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in employee relations or a similar HR role.
• Proven experience working with trade unions and managing employee relations cases.
• Required to travel up to 40% of time.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to foster a positive work environment.
• Conduct exit interviews to gather feedback and implement corrective actions.
• Administer relationships with trade unions and work councils.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Job description

The Employee Relations Manager is responsible for managing employee relations activities within the country, ensuring a positive work environment and compliance with company policies and labor laws. This role involves addressing employee concerns, resolving conflicts, and supporting the Senior HR Manager in implementing regional employee relations strategies. The position can be based remotely or on one of your sites, with frequent travel to our other sites when needed. Ideal location would be within the North West, Midlands area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Law, Business Administration, or a related field or equivalent through experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in employee relations or a similar HR role, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience working with trade unions, work councils, and managing complex employee relations cases.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, conflict resolution abilities, and knowledge of labor laws and regulations.
• Experience in a matrixed organization, with dual reporting lines or cross-functional collaboration.
• Required to travel up to 40% of time

Our offer for you....

• Strong focus on work-life balance
• Competitive compensation
• Private medical insurance
• Company car
• Generous company contributed pension
• Salary extras and additional holiday days purchase
• Life insurance
• Share incentive plan
• Career growth in a global, innovative company
• Industry leadership in protective coatings
• Access to Sherwin Academy for continuous learning
• Inclusive wellbeing, mental health, and ID&E programmes
• Supportive environment for women and diversity in the workplace

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Responsibilities

Employee Relations and Workplace Culture

•Develop and implement strategies to foster a positive work environment and promote a healthy workplace culture.
•Address employee concerns proactively and manage involuntary exits with professionalism and empathy.
•Conduct exit interviews to gather feedback, identify trends, and implement corrective actions where necessary.
•Work closely with HR teams and Managers to align employee relations strategies with business goals and ensure transparent communication with employees and management.

Union & Work Council Relations

•Administer and maintain effective relationships with trade unions and work councils.
•Actively engage and consult with employee representatives to address concern and negotiate agreements.
•Ensure consistent and constructive dialogue with social partners to support organizational stability.

Training & Development

•Provide training and support to Managers on employee relations topics, including conflict resolution and effective communication.
•Provide training and support to managers on employee relations, partner with L&D to deliver programs on conflict resolution and communication, and support initiatives to enhance employee skills and capabilities.

Compliance and Legal

•Act as first point of contact for legal compliance matters at the site level, ensuring HR practices are legally sound and ethically aligned.
•Conduct regular audits of HR processes (e.g. contracts, working hours, leave management) to identify and correct compliance gaps.
•Collaborate with Legal and Labor Relations teams to develop and implement mitigation plans and collective agreements.
•Support investigations and resolution of employee grievances, disciplinary actions, or legal claims, ensuring documentation and process integrity.
•Facilitate and coordinate mandatory compliance training sessions to ensure awareness and adherence across the organization.
•Assist in developing, implementing, and communicating HR policies and procedures, ensuring they are up-to-date and compliant with current labor laws and regulations.

Compensation and Benefits Support

•Partner with the Compensation and Benefits team to manage benefits scheme renewals.
•Ensure timely invoicing and payments to employee benefits.
•Oversee the governance and communication of company pension schemes.