Employee Relations Partner, based Waltham Abbey (Hybrid role). Salary up to £60k p.a. + many benefits. An exciting time to join Jollyes Pets - an award-winning pet-specialist retail business in a phase of growth, in a newly created role within our People team. You'll provide expert advice to support our managers and colleagues with all ER matters, helping us keep things fair, consistent and fully compliant. It's a great time to embark on your People team career with Jollyes
The Benefits
At Jollyes, we're as passionate about our people as we are about our pets We think our tail-wagging benefits package reflects our appreciation for all that our colleagues do and provides support where it's needed most.
Competitive salary of £55-60k p.a. (depending on experience)
Company bonus scheme based on achieving objectives
iTrent financial wellbeing package, powered by Stream, enabling access to earnings before pay day plus lots more discounts and savings benefits.
Retail Trust membership – counselling, wellbeing and financial support for the retail industry
Colleague 'Treats' – numerous discounts on up to 800 high street retailers and online service providers from groceries to holidays and cinema trips
Colleague 'We Care' wellbeing & medical support services – online GP, mental health support, get fit programme and much more (including 'Tooth Fairy' dentist on demand).
30% off Jollyes branded products (and 20% off other brands in store for your pet's needs) with discounts for our groomers and pet clinics too.
Additional paid leave for your wedding, new pet coming home and your birthday off
Enhanced maternity / paternity leave
Discounted membership for David Lloyd Clubs - access to gym, pool, spa, classes, racquet sports, kids clubs and more
Further benefits on completion of probationary period (Critical illness, life assurance, PMI, enhanced pension).
This is a full time, hybrid role involving a minimum of 3 x office days per week at our pet-friendly support office in Waltham Abbey (Essex) and up to 2 x days per week from home (or other Jollyes location as preferred hours per week.
The Role – Employee Relations Partner
This new role sits within our People team who deliver strategic and operational support across the full employee life cycle, driving a high performing and inclusive culture that reflects our values and supports the achievement of business goals.
This role matters because you'll play a key part in ensuring colleagues feel supported every step of the way, improving manager capability and reducing risk. Your work directly contributes to our positive culture, fair outcomes and confident managers — helping Jollyes be a workplace our colleagues are proud to call home.
Reporting to the Head of People Services, you'll be our go-to expert for all things employee relations — helping us keep things fair, consistent and fully compliant, while supporting a happy, healthy workplace where our colleagues truly thrive. You'll be the calm, confident guide when things get a little… ruff. From complex casework to coaching managers, you'll help resolve issues early, reduce risk and boost capability across our growing pack.
A full job description is available on request, but to summarise your key responsibilities:
Providing expert advice on disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance and capability cases.
Leading fair, thorough investigations and supporting early resolution through coaching and mediation.
Helping managers build confidence and skills in handling people matters.
Spotting trends, analysing ER data and recommending proactive improvements.
Ensuring everything we do aligns with employment law, best practice and our Jollyes values.
Supporting organisational change such as restructures, redundancies and TUPE.
Playing a key role in creating a consistent, positive colleague experience across our multi-site business.
Success measures for this role include early resolution rate, reduction in long term absence costs and tribunal claims, policy adherence and cases resolved within agreed timescales. Also, improved manager capability and confidence handling ER issues (therefore reduction in escalated ER cases), positive feedback from managers and colleagues on the ER support provided and evidence of proactive interventions that reduce ER risks.
The Skills – Employee Relations Partner
To be successful in this role, you'll need the following skills, experience and qualities:
Strong knowledge of UK employment law and experience managing complex ER cases.
CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent experience) and experience supporting change and delivering manager training.
Proven experience in a similar fast-paced, multi-site or retail/operational environment.
Skilled communicator who can coach, influence and appropriately challenge — always fairly, always kindly.
Great judgement, highly organised and able to handle a busy caseload with care and confidentiality.
A genuine passion for fairness, inclusion and values-led ways of working — because we don't just talk the talk; we walk the walkies
Share our values of being: Wise, Focused, Genuine, Eager, Together
About Jollyes Pets
Jollyes are an award-winning UK pet retailer with over 100 stores and over 50 years of pet expertise between our paws. Winners of the Retail Week award for 'Best Retailer 2024' (under £250m t/o), and listed in the Sunday Times 'Best Places to Work' you really can be sure you're joining a great brand and employer, trusted by our customers and our colleagues. Accredited by 'Rest Less' as an age-inclusive employer we welcome applications of all ages (16+), and with our accreditation to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, we're friendly to pets people and the planet too
To Apply:
If you're looking for a career with a company who will truly value you and recognise your contribution with some fantastic rewards and benefits, where you can really make a difference, click to apply today
Respectfully no agencies please