Employee Relations Specialist, CA,WA,

Employee Relations Specialist – CA, OR, WA

Reports to:

Employee Relations and Experience Manager

Sizzling Platter is a franchise growth platform operating more than 900 restaurants across the United States and Mexico. Founded in 1963, our business is focused on scaling leading brands in outstanding restaurant markets. Our Support Center is located in Murray, Utah, and we are committed to supporting the 12,000+ team members who operate our restaurants every day.

Our current brands include Little Caesars, Wingstop, Dunkin’, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Sizzler Steakhouse, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Jamba, and Cinnabon. Our mission is to provide unparalleled experiences for our team members, guests, and brands while driving strong financial performance and becoming the premier franchise growth platform.

We are seeking an experienced and driven Employee Relations Specialist with deep expertise in West Coast employment law, particularly California, Oregon, and Washington, to join our growing Human Resources team. In this role, you will serve as a subject matter expert and primary point of contact for complex ER matters across our restaurant portfolio in these states, independently lead investigations, advise operations leaders, and ensure compliance with some of the most demanding employment regulatory environments in the country.

This is a high‑impact, high‑visibility role suited for an ER professional who operates with confidence and credibility, thrives in a fast‑paced multi‑unit environment, and brings a strategic mindset to the day‑to‑day realities of employee relations in the restaurant industry.

• Lead end‑to‑end investigations into complex employee relations matters including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and workplace misconduct, with a particular focus on California, Oregon, and Washington regulatory frameworks.
• Maintain timely, thorough, and legally defensible case documentation across all stages of the investigation lifecycle.
• Manage an active caseload with accuracy and urgency, providing consistent updates to HR leadership and operational stakeholders.
• Partner with legal counsel as appropriate on high‑risk or litigation‑adjacent matters.

• Serve as the internal subject matter expert for California (FEHA, CFRA, CCPA, PAGA, local ordinances), Oregon (OFLA, statewide pay equity, predictive scheduling), and Washington (WFLA, L&I, anti‑discrimination statutes) employment requirements.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes across CA, OR, and WA; proactively assess operational impact and recommend policy or process updates.
• Ensure restaurant operations in these states maintain compliance with separation practices and wage‑and‑hour requirements.
• Advise various Operational Leaders on state‑specific obligations and best practices.

• Support the development, communication, and consistent application of HR policies across West Coast markets.
• Support separation processes, including structured documentation review and participation in unemployment claims as needed.

• Collaborate with HR, Operations, and Legal teams to ensure aligned, compliant, and timely resolution of employee matters.
• Contribute to ER data reporting and continuous improvement of investigation and case management processes.

• 2–4 years of progressive experience in employee relations, HR, or a related field, ideally within a multi‑unit, multi‑state environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of California, Oregon, and/or Washington employment law; ability to apply regulatory requirements to real‑world ER scenarios.
• Proven experience independently conducting workplace investigations and producing written investigation summaries or findings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex or sensitive information clearly and professionally.
• High degree of discretion, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate ambiguity with confidence.
• Detail‑oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to…