Employee Relations Senior Consultant

Manulife; Makati; Hybrid; PHP 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Growth opportunities

Flexible work policies

Professional development

Work-life balance

Job summary

Manulife is hiring an Employee Relations expert in Manila to act as a strategic partner to HR Leaders, guiding on compliance with Philippine labor standards and advising on complex disciplinary matters. The role requires deep knowledge of labor advisories, conflict resolution, and people strategy execution within a global financial services environment.

The position offers hybrid work arrangements, collaboration across functions, and opportunities to influence ER standards in a multinational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Legal Management or other law-related field.
• Skilled in managing conflict among employees through mediation or negotiations.
• Working knowledge of PH labor laws related to termination processes.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic partner to HR Leaders and HR Teams in Employee Relations.
• Provide guidance on PH labor advisories and labor law updates to ensure compliance.
• Mediate and provide recommended resolutions for workplace conflicts.
• Advise and support HR Partners on people strategy to ensure a seamless employee experience.
• Coordinate with internal/external Legal Counsel on complex cases.
• Manage formal complaint processes and escalations for sensitive issues.

Skills

Conflict management

Mediation

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Legal Management or related legal field

Job description

Job Description:

The opportunity

The role shall be responsible in handling all Employee Relations concern ensuring that legal risks are minimized if not eliminated. The role is accountable for own work and contributes to setting strong ER standards through expertise that impact other’s deliverables. Can lead medium to large size projects or work streams with moderate resource requirements, risk and/or complexity with multiple teams representing different interests.

Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the job function, the role must be capable of functioning at a high level of autonomy and independence, be competent in dealing with a broad range of employee issues and confident when interacting with employees and management at all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

Work as a strategic partner with the different HR Leaders and HR Teams

• As an Employee Relations Subject Matter Expert, provides guidance to HR Leaders and different HR Teams on matters related to ER to ensure that all HR policies and guidelines in place are compliant to the minimum standards of the law in the Philippine labor setting.
• Provides support to HR Leaders in the interpretation on local labor advisories and labor law updates to ensure compliance.
• Acts as a mediator/conciliation and go to person in resolving work related conflict/issues and provide/recommend best resolution.
• Supports HR Partners and HR Leaders on people strategy to ensure a seamless overall employee experience.

Work as coach/consultant to Business Leaders of the different Functions/Entities

• Provides professional advice – takes a lead role of process or program execution
• Strong ability to interpret both internal and external legal compliance matters related to Employee Relations ensuring that risks are minimized if not eliminated. Provides recommendation on the course of action and industry practice to improve processes or guidelines. Closely monitor/track and ensure that policies, practices, and decisions are aligned and compliant with applicable local legislation
• Review, advise and provide support as appropriate, on employee demotions and terminations to ensure compliance with provincial and federal laws, policies, procedures, and standard management practices.
• Provide credible advice, guidance, and professional support with respect to interpretation and application of employee relations and associated policies, practices, procedures to HR Business Partner, HR Business Consultants, and Recruiting Consultants
• Advise and provide guidance/support to employees regarding work-related issues including, but not limited to, conflicts with manager/peer, role strain, performance issues, real or perceived discrimination and disability/leave management.
• Provide direct assistance to people leaders as appropriate, in the resolution of individual workplace disputes, including mediation.
• Support HR Partners and HR Leaders on people strategy to ensure a seamless overall employee experience

Case Management

• Preparation of notices related to Just and Authorized Causes of termination
• End to end case processing of terminable cases including writing Notices to Explain and Notices of Decision
• Assists Leaders in Drafting Notices and advise them on proper sanctions based on the Labor Code and the Company Standards of Professional Conduct
• Determine Disciplinary sanctions based on the Labor Code and the Company Standards of Professional Conduct and advise management on the risk decisions would take.
• Coordination with both internal/external Legal Counsel on complex cases.

Coordination

• Manage the formal complaint process including documentation for harassment, discrimination, ethical and conflict of interest complaints/issues and any others of a highly sensitive nature.
• Provide/recommend additional escalation/intervention on all complaints as appropriate.
• Provide appropriate support during large-scale interventions (e.g. trauma, business continuity)
• Manage and coordinate issues related to absenteeism and medical accommodations.
• Ensure that involuntary employee terminations are handled appropriately, within the legal and statutory requirements and in accordance with standard management practices and policies including severance.
• Manage legal issues resulting from involuntary termination or other matters directly with the employee, the employee’s legal Counsel and Manulife’s legal team as appropriate.
• Provide advice and support to employees, people leaders and HR Partners during organizational design changes or strategic cost management activities working closely with our Global ER Operations Team.

Closely monitor/track and ensure that policies, practices, and decisions are aligned and compliant with the Labor Code of the Philippines

• Coordinate with both internal/external Legal Counsel and attend conciliation meetings if the need arises.
• Review and amend company guidelines, processes and policies related to Employee Relations on a regular basis

Project Management

• Suggest, lead and initiate process improvement in Employee Relations programs and processes and other HR related processes that would benefit HR / ER and its internal clients
• Create and implement local standards that has impact to Employee Relations and people strategy as needed

How will you create impact?

Reporting to the Head of HR Employee Relations, this role shall provide professional advice and support to the business in the area of Employee Relations and shall act as the consultant for leaders in facilitating disciplinary cases.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for

• Preferably least 7 to 10 years of in-depth experience in Philippine Employee Relations, Labor Relations or Industrial Relations in the BPO or Finance industry
• Bachelor’s degree preferably Political Science, Legal Management or other courses in the field of Law.
• Skilled in managing conflict among employees through mediation or negotiations as well as facilitating arbitration.
• Working knowledge on PH labor laws related termination process.
• Knowledge in the finance and insurance industry including related regulatory requirements and compliance.

Problems Solving:

• Applying changes to the organizational policy and process while ensuring compliance of all employees regardless of their level.
• Providing guidance to people leaders from different parts of the world as we operate in a global set up.
• Uses analytical thought to exercise judgment and contributes to the providing resolutions.
• Leads the team and others to solve complex matters in Employee Relations

Leadership:

• Sets high standards in Employee Relations and ensures all PH entities are aligned
• Lead projects teams on process improvements both local and at Regional level

Interpersonal Skills:

• Communicates difficult concepts and information to clients and stakeholders and converts technical information into business information and advice
• Influence others to adopt to a different point of view and creates an inclusive conversation
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture
  We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity
  We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation
  We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship
  We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Working Arrangement

Hybrid