Employee Relations Manager

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Freshfields is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams.

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

The Freshfields Raleigh office provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

Role summary/purpose of job

You will report into the Senior Manager, ER and also work closely with the other members of the firm’s Employee Relations and Performance team to provide excellent ER guidance and support to the business. You will be the first point of contact to provide HR colleagues and the business with advice and support on all employee relations matters, with the purpose of facilitating an organizational culture of high performance, high integrity and employee engagement.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

The ER Manager will work with other members of the ER team to support HR colleagues and business managers by:

• Advising on all employee relations matters, such as performance management, grievance and disciplinary issues, sickness absence and occupational heath
• Managing core ER processes, including performance management, disciplinary and capability
• Conducting grievance and disciplinary investigations, including decision-making (depending on level of complexity)
• Building and sustaining strong business relationships to influence their approach and promote good employee relations and across the firm
• Keeping to date with developments in terms of employment legislation and employee relations issues, and utilizing this knowledge to advise, guide and direct HR and the business where necessary and maintaining company policy and procedure accordingly
• Supporting other team members and ER support as appropriate on ER related matters and initiatives
• Delivering relevant ER training, eg to managers, HR managers and HR Services
• Drafting policy and other employment-related documentation as required
• To undertake such other tasks as may be necessary from time to time
• Working closely with HR Services to identify ER services that can be provided by HR Services and to ensure an excellent level operational delivery of ER services by HR Services

Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)

• Strong knowledge and practical experience of independently managing core ER procedures and processes to a high standard
• At least 4 years’ previous experience of advising on a wide range of employee relations issues, preferably in in a specialist ER…