Employee Relations Specialist

Purpose

As an ER Advisor you will be a business area expert and accountable for all casework within your business units. You will be a point of escalation for HRBPs within the units and responsible for your own case management within allocated sites. You will multiple tasks simultaneously and establish strong relationships with stakeholders across the business unit. This is a dynamic and challenging role requires efficient and timely execution of administrative activities to ensure overall success.

Our purpose is to support our managers to make Pilgrims Europe a great place to work. We advise and coach managers in their management of ER cases, upholding fair and just policies in-line with legislation and best practice whilst balancing risk and commerciality to deliver the best results for our business. In addition actively drive company initiatives, supporting with ER projects as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for case management within your business units acting as a point of escalation for HRBPs.
• Ensuring delivery of continuous improvement in case management
• Responsible as a Subject Matter Expert for a high impacting ER cases
• Provide pragmatic case management support and advice on all employee relations matters, including but not limited to, Disciplinaries, Investigations, Grievances, Appeals, AWOL, Redundancy, TUPE, Ill Health Capability, Long Term Sick Absence, Performance Management, Flexible Working, Probation Reviews etc
• Manage and support the business with occupational health referrals
• Manage and support the business with Early Conciliation/ Employment Tribunal and Workers Relations Committee Cases.
• Pro-actively manage case work to ensure resolution within Service Level Agreements
• Ensure new cases are responded to in line with service level agreements and that line managers receive telecommunication/video support to discuss the case.
• Responsible for keeping up to date with current Employment legislation and case law
• Support Managers and employees ensuring we promote an ethical and best practice culture and adhere to Company standards, Policies and legislation.
• Responsible for ensuring all paperwork associated with case management is created and issued in line with ACAS/Policy.
• Responsible for ensuring all casework documentation is accurately filled and stored on the appropriate systems.
• Responsible for ensuring all case work is accurately recorded on the HR Management System in line with standards.
• Provide Individual coaching & training Line Managers in all ER matters
• Provide support material for managers such as scripts/guides and templates for meetings and hearings
• Provide support for managers with regular phone calls to ensure they are prepared for all meetings and hearings.
• Support managers by providing note taking for complex meetings and hearings
• Flexible approach to visiting sites to support Line managers with ER matters or any allocated investigation
• Ensure the escalation framework is pro-actively applied to ensure
• Build collaborative working relationships with the employee relations team to ensure a joined up approach is taken when reaching decisions
• Brand Ambassador taking responsibility for your own learning & development and being seen as an excellent ER role model
• Actively contribute to the development of subject matter expert training programs to be delivered to sites.

Essential Criteria

• Up to date knowledge of employment law
• Experience providing coaching and support to colleagues in casework
• Managing complex employee relation matters within a manufacturing/FMCG environment.
• Ability to manage high volumes of complex casework and prioritise workload to meet business needs
• Ability to identify and pro-actively assess and mitigate risk
• Coaching and influencing skills
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a friendly open nature and a genuine desire to be of assistance to Line Managers, employees and HR Managers
• Strong administration skills with advanced proficiency in Microsoft excel, word, PowerPoint

Our values are at the heart of our business and drive everything we do. Availability is key as we are receptive and open and prepared to take on new challenges. Humility is important to us as we listen and respect each other and value opinions of others. Discipline is vital to fulfil commitment internally and externally. We need to be truthful to each other and respectful of other opinions, so Sincerity drives us. At Pilgrim’s we focus on what’s practical and important so through Simplicity, Ownership and Determination brings success. Interpersonal skills are crucial for this role, as it involves working with various people across different levels of the organization. Besides having a strong understanding of HR systems, soft skills like self-confidence and persuasiveness are also essential in this people-focused position. It is important to act with integrity, professionalism, and impartiality, and tailor responses accordingly.