Specialist, Employee Relations

FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

FALL CREEK FARM & NURSERY is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to manage investigations, policy compliance, and documentation across multiple locations. You will advise managers, maintain confidential records, and support ER initiatives in a high-volume environment.

Ideal candidates have 3–5 years of ER experience, knowledge of federal and multi-state laws, and strong communication skills. Experience with union environments and CBA provisions is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in HR, labor relations, business or psychology.
• 3–5 years of employee relations experience, incl. investigations.
• Knowledge of federal & multi-state employment laws.
• Experience advising managers on corrective action & performance management.
• PHR/SHRM certs or SHRM Workplace Investigations certificate.

Responsibilities

• Conduct objective, timely investigations (harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations).
• Interview parties, analyze evidence, prepare legally defensible findings & reports.
• Maintain confidential case records & ER dashboards.
• Provide ER guidance to People Partners and managers.
• Track, document, close cases per ER standards.
• Flag trends and risks to ER Director.
• Advise on corrective action, documentation & disciplinary matters.
• Assist with responses to EEOC/state inquiries.
• Apply CBA provisions including just-cause & progressive discipline.

Skills

Organization

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Attention to detail

Policy guidance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/LR/Business/PSY

PHR/SHRM certs

Tools

HRIS/HR technology platforms

Job description

Career Opportunities: Specialist, Employee Relations (16716)

Requisition ID16716-Posted -HR - HRBP-Human Resources

The Employee Relations Specialist is an individual contributor on the centralized ER team, reporting to the Employee Relations Director. This role manages a broad caseload across assigned locations, including workplace investigations, corrective action guidance, policy compliance, and documentation. The ideal candidate is a skilled investigator, trusted manager advisor, and detail-oriented compliance professional who thrives in high-volume, multi-state, and unionized environments. This role offers growth for an ER professional seeking to deepen expertise and progress toward senior or lead ER roles.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct objective, timely investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, misconduct, and other ER matters.
• Interview parties, analyze evidence, and prepare legally defensible findings, recommendations, and investigation reports.
• Follow ER investigation protocols, escalate high-risk matters, and maintain confidential case records.
• Manage ER caseloads across assigned locations, including discipline, PIPs, terminations, workplace conflict, and policy matters.
• Provide timely, consistent ER guidance to People Business Partners and managers.
• Track, document, and close cases in accordance with ER team standards.
• Monitor trends and flag emerging risks to the ER Director.
• Advise managers and People Business Partners on corrective action, documentation, performance management, discipline, and terminations.
• Coach managers through difficult workplace conversations and compliant employee decisions.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies across assigned locations and jurisdictions.
• Monitor employment law developments and flag policy or practice updates.
• Support responses to EEOC charges and state agency inquiries.
• Apply applicable CBA provisions, including just-cause, progressive discipline, and Weingarten standards.
• Identify labor relations implications and coordinate with People Business Partners or counsel as needed.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to ER dashboards, trend analysis, and reporting.
• Recommend policy, training, or operational improvements based on recurring ER issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field.
• 3–5 years of employee relations experience, including workplace investigations.
• Working knowledge of federal employment laws and multi-state application.
• Experience advising managers on corrective action, documentation, and performance management.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and follow-through in high-volume environments.
• Excellent written communication skills, including reports, corrective actions, and correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills across all employee levels.
• Comfortable supporting union and non-union environments.
• PHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM Workplace Investigations Certificate.
• Experience in cannabis, retail, food & beverage, agriculture, or other heavily regulated, multi-site industries.
• Exposure to HRIS/ER technology platforms
• Experience working with unionized workforces and applying CBA provisions to day-to-day ER matters.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus
• Prior experience in a centralized, shared-services HR or ER team model.

Preferred Qualifications

Bi-lingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Physical and Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position, move and/or position oneself, communicate, operate and/or prepare, place, position objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally move packages weighing up to 10 lb. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close observation and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Work is performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.