Employee Relations Specialist I - Camino Media

Clinica Sierra Vista; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 77,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Vacation days

Wellness plan

Education assistance

403(B) plan

Job summary

Clinica Sierra Vista is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist I to support and enhance employee relations initiatives and investigations. You will address employee concerns, advise on policy interpretation, and ensure compliance with California and federal labor laws.

The role requires collaboration with HR leadership and management to resolve workplace issues, maintain documentation, and implement compliant disciplinary actions. This position is based in Bakersfield, CA.

Qualifications

• Supports and enhances employee relations initiatives, addressing concerns and advising on policy interpretation.
• Conducts investigations into workplace misconduct and ensures compliance with labor laws.
• Maintains records and provides guidance on disciplinary actions and resolutions.

Responsibilities

• Respond to employee concerns and complaints with confidential, prompt resolution.
• Conduct investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other misconduct.
• Prepare investigation reports and ensure documentation standards are met.
• Provide guidance on policies, procedures, and the progressive discipline process.
• Monitor compliance with California and federal employment laws and regulations.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigation

Policy interpretation

California labor laws

Communication

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Employee Relations Specialist I - Camino Media

Full Time Regular Bakersfield, CA, US 1 Attachments

Salary Range: $76,960.00 To $96,064.80 Annually

Clinica Sierra Vista is excited to be one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Nation! We’re honored to serve the men and women of the fields. We also offer care and support to the inner city, the rural and isolated, those of low, moderate, and fixed incomes, and families from an array of cultural backgrounds who speak several languages. We don’t inquire about immigration status because we simply don’t need to know. If you come to us, we will treat you like any other patient.

As we grow our team, we are looking for individuals who believe the patient is always #1.

Why work for us

• Competitive pay which matches your abilities and experience
• Health coverage for you and your family
• Generous number of vacation days per year
• A robust wellness plan and health club discounts
• Continuing education assistance to grow and further your talents
• 403(B) plan with company matching

We're looking for someone to join our team as an Employee Relations Specialist I who:

The Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for supporting and enhancing employee relations initiatives to foster a positive, respectful, and legally compliant workplace environment. This role serves as a key resource for addressing employee concerns, advising on policy interpretation, conducting investigations, and ensuring adherence to California and federal labor laws. The Specialist will work closely with HR leadership, managers, and employees to resolve workplace issues, ensure procedural fairness, and mitigate risk.

Essential Functions

Employee Relations Leadership

• Respond to employee concerns and complaints, ensuring prompt, confidential, and thorough resolution in accordance with legal and company policies.
• Conduct investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other workplace misconduct, including interviews, documentation review, and recommendation of corrective actions.
• Document investigation findings and ensure compliance with documentation standards under California law.
• Partner with HR and management to develop appropriate resolutions and disciplinary actions, ensuring consistency and legal compliance.
• Provide guidance to managers and employees on employee relations best practices, workplace policies, and the progressive discipline process.
• Monitor compliance with state and federal employment laws, including FEHA, CFRA, ADA, FMLA, and Cal/OSHA regulations.
• Maintain a strong understanding of emerging HR trends, case law, and regulatory changes affecting California workplaces.
• Assist in the development, interpretation, and implementation of HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of employee relations cases, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
• Prepare written summaries, investigation reports, and correspondence for internal or external use.
• Track and analyze employee relations data to identify patterns and make recommendations for workplace improvements.
• Support the development and delivery of training programs related to respectful workplace, harassment prevention performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Assist in employee engagement efforts, including climate assessments, focus groups, and action planning.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in employee relations for clinical and non-clinical departments, ensuring timely, fair, and objective resolution of workplace concerns in alignment with California labor laws and healthcare regulations.
• Conduct and document comprehensive investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace bullying, HIPAA violations, unprofessional conduct, and patient care concerns involving staff.
• Collaborate with Clinical Leadership, Risk Management, and Compliance to assess risk related to patient safety or clinical misconduct and recommend appropriate corrective or disciplinary action.
• Ensure adherence to Joint Commission, OSV expectations when addressing staff behavior that may affect patient care or regulatory compliance.
• Apply and interpret California-specific employment laws and hospital/healthcare policies in complex situations involving:
  • Meal and rest break compliance
  • Overtime and alternative workweek schedules (e.g., 4/10s, 3/12s)
  • On-call, standby, and reporting time pay
• Partner with Clinical Management, HR, and Legal to ensure that employee actions, investigations, and terminations minimize organizational risk and regulatory exposure.
• Review disciplinary actions and ensure documentation supports defensibility under California’s at-will employment framework while recognizing heightened risk in wrongful termination claims.
• Support compliance with California-specific leave laws and on complex leave and return-to-work scenarios.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Responsibilities

• Must maintain a positive, professional demeanor and provide a welcoming environment towards employees.
• Provides support on employee safety initiatives. May conduct Workers’ Compensation investigations.
• HIPAA compliance – Responsible for being aware of and complying with HIPAA regulations including HIPAA security requirements.
• Support and uphold all CSV Values which include Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, Transparency, and Timeliness.
• Must be able to multi-task and work on multiple projects at once.
• Reasonable and predictable in person attendance.

Other Responsibilities

• Must maintain a positive, professional demeanor and provide a welcoming environment towards employees.
• Provides support on employee safety initiatives. May conduct Workers’ Compensation investigations.
• HIPAA compliance – Responsible for being aware of and complying with HIPAA regulations including HIPAA security requirements.
• Support and uphold all CSV Values which include Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, Transparency, and Timeliness.
• Must be able to multi-task and work on multiple projects at once.
• Reasonable and predictable in person attendance.

Clinica Sierra Vista values human rights, goodwill, respect, inclusivity, equality, and recognizes that the organization derives its strength from a rich diversity of thoughts, ideas, and contributions. As leaders in healthcare industry, we aspire to be an employer of choice by promoting an organizational culture that reflects these core values. We seek to attract, develop, and retain a talented and dedicated workforce where people of diverse races, genders, religions, cultures, political affiliations and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers our employees to provide the highest level of service to our community of residents and businesses; they’re counting on us.

Clinica Sierra Vista is an equal opportunity employer and strives to attract qualified applicants from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create an environment that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our workforce. We welcome you to join our team!