Employee Relations Specialist

Accentuate Staffing; North Carolina; Remote; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Accentuate Staffing is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Specialist for a fully remote, 3-month contract opportunity with an established organization. This role requires independence, strong counsel skills, and thorough documentation to support managers and staff during sensitive workplace matters.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, ADA accommodations, and employment law compliance, serving as a trusted advisor

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on employee relations experience in a corporate or professional HR environment.
• Strong experience managing complex employee relations matters, including investigations, discipline, and terminations.
• Knowledge of ADA accommodations and the interactive process.
• Experience preparing detailed employee relations documentation and investigation reports.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws (ADA, FMLA, EEOC).
• Proven ability to coach and counsel managers on performance and sensitive personnel matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and ability to handle difficult conversations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary resource for managers and staff on employee relations matters and policy questions.
• Counsel management on performance issues, disciplinary actions, terminations, and conflict resolution.
• Coach leaders to strengthen management effectiveness and foster a positive work environment.
• Provide guidance on progressive discipline, PIPs, corrective actions, and separations.
• Review disciplinary actions and ensure consistency and compliance with policies.
• Investigate employee relations concerns, prepare reports, and document findings.

Skills

Employee relations

Workplace investigations

Performance management

ADA accommodations

Employment law

Coaching leadership

Documentation

Case management

Communication

Remote work

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Accentuate Staffing is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Specialist for a fully remote, 3-month contract opportunity with an established organization. This position will provide temporary coverage during a leave of absence.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, ADA accommodations, and employment law compliance. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to managers and employees, providing guidance on sensitive workplace matters while ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with company policies and applicable employment laws.

We are seeking a proactive HR professional who is comfortable independently managing employee relations issues, coaching leadership teams, conducting investigations, and maintaining thorough and accurate documentation.

This role is remove but the employee MUST live in NC.

Responsibilities:

Employee Relations & Management Support

• Serve as a primary resource for managers and employees regarding employee relations matters, workplace concerns, and company policies.
• Counsel management and staff on performance issues, disciplinary actions, terminations, conflict resolution, and employee complaints.
• Proactively coach and develop leaders to strengthen management effectiveness, improve team performance, and foster a positive, healthy working environment aligned with organizational culture.
• Provide guidance on progressive discipline, performance improvement plans (PIPs), corrective actions, and employee separations.
• Review disciplinary actions, written warnings, and dispute documentation to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with company policies.
• Partner with leadership to identify and proactively address employee relations concerns before they escalated.

Workplace Investigations & Compliance

• Conduct thorough, objective, and confidential employee relations investigations involving workplace complaints, policy violations, misconduct, and other sensitive matters.
• Prepare detailed investigation reports, maintain accurate case notes, and document findings, recommendations, and resolutions.
• Manage and respond to employee relations matters involving ADA accommodations, including participation in the interactive process and coordination with appropriate HR stakeholders.
• Support compliance with federal and state employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, EEOC, and other applicable regulations.
• Assist with unemployment claims, EEOC inquiries, and other employment-related matters as needed.
• Ensure employee relations practices are consistently applied and appropriately documented.

Documentation & Case Management

• Maintain comprehensive, accurate, and confidential documentation for all employee relations cases, investigations, disciplinary actions, and resolutions.
• Track employee relations matters from initial complaint through final resolution, ensuring timely follow-up and appropriate closure.
• Review and prepare employee relations documentation, including corrective actions, performance improvement plans, investigation summaries, and termination recommendations.
• Identify trends in employee relations cases and recommend proactive solutions to improve workplace culture and reduce organizational risk.
• Collaborate with HR leadership and other internal stakeholders to ensure effective case management and consistent application of policies.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on employee relations experience in a corporate or professional HR environment.
• Strong experience managing complex employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, performance management, and terminations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ADA accommodations and the interactive process.
• Extensive experience preparing detailed employee relations documentation, investigation reports, and disciplinary records.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, EEOC, and related employment regulations.
• Proven ability to coach and counsel managers on employee performance, workplace conflicts, and sensitive personnel matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to navigate difficult conversations professionally and diplomatically.
• Strong judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple employee relations cases and competing priorities in a remote environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS or employee relations case management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in the medical, healthcare, or related industry is preferred but not required.
• Experience supporting managers and employees across multiple departments or locations.
• Experience managing unemployment claims, EEOC responses, and complex employee investigations.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification is a plus.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be an experienced, confident Employee Relations professional who can step into an established HR function and contribute immediately with minimal training. This person will be comfortable handling sensitive employee matters independently, providing practical guidance to leadership, and ensuring all employee relations activities are documented thoroughly and accurately.

We are looking for someone who balances employee advocacy with organizational risk management, approaches workplace challenges with professionalism and empathy, and understands the importance of building strong relationships with managers while maintaining a fair and consistent employee relations process.