Employee Relations Generalist

Position Summary

Serve as primary point of contact for team member inquiries related to employee relations, complaints and investigations. Primarily oversee performance management processes including performance appraisals, performance coaching, disciplinary actions and separations of employment. Support and maintain a positive relationship between the organization and its employees by addressing employee concerns, resolving conflict and implementing practices that promote both transparency and accountability. Maintain quality service standards set by the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·         Oversee employee relations inquiries and requests. Determine issue and provide appropriate information and guidance as per policies.

·         Provide primary oversight of employee relations issues such as conflict resolution and general concerns, and assess root cause of each situation. Exercise discretion and independent judgement to provide recommendations for resolution. Consult with appropriate HR specialists as needed.

·         Utilize effective communication tools to ensure matters at hand are fully understood by all parties involved, promoting both transparency and accountability.

·         Independently review and approve all substandard evaluations and performance disciplinary actions within performance management system. Provide managers with coaching and direction as needed to ensure all approved documents are within established processes and policies and that risk is mitigated for the organization. Provide recommendations on appropriate level of disciplinary action as applicable.

·         Responsible for leading workplace investigations and conducting investigation meetings as appropriate for employee claims. Prepare and maintain HR Investigative documentation using approved templates.  Ensure that all participants are provided with applicable periodic updates of the progress of investigations in a timely manner until the investigation is closed out and completed. Maintain a master list of specific HR investigations/claim types as well as their status and outcomes.

·         Manage the master employee relations case log to track case details, monitor trends, ensure timely resolution of all active cases, and report applicable metrics monthly.

·         Identify trends in employee relations cases and use these to recommend enhancements as well as development of HR employee relations training classes for management.  Responsible for facilitating HR training classes in conjunction with the Employee Relations Generalist (Compliance). 

·         Make recommendation for separations and coordinate administration of exiting employees.

·         Review and track performance appraisals as needed, and in accordance with approved policies and procedures.

·         Respond to escalated HR-related questions related to policy interpretation and application. Respond to employee concerns and provide information and policy guidance to supervisor and/or employee. 

·         Provide backup coverage for unemployment claim hearings and correspondence as needed to defend the position of SDCCU related to employee separations.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

·         Serve as backup to Employee Relations Generalist (Compliance) and Employee Relations Coordinator as directed.

·         Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills)

• Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources or related field, a certificate in Human Resources Management, or three years’ related work experience.

• Functional competency with basic HR body of knowledge, with three years’ experience working in an HR Department. Experience is preferred to include working directly within employee relations or other relevant areas of HR.

• Experience conducting employee investigations is preferred.

• Ability to solve complex problems utilizing critical thinking skills and deliver solutions where established precedent may not exist. Requires a significant degree of creative and outside-the-box thinking, as well as the ability to analyze scenarios, weighing the desirability and/or probability of possible outcomes in relation to each other.

• Ability to work independently and function under minimal supervision without an impact to overall work output.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks to meet deadlines.

• Must obtain and be able to utilize strong and professional interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to interact with a wide range of individuals and departments. Demonstrated internal service skills, including patience, discretion and confidentiality.

• Must be nimble, with demonstrated ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.

• Quick learner with inquisitive mindset, with confidence to speak up and/or challenge the status quo in a professional manner.

• Strong comfort level when using MS Office products, to include Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Teams.

• Comfortable with technology, with ability to learn and navigate ticket management software.