Title: Employee Relations Advisor
Working Hours: 40 Hours
Reporting to: Senior Employee Relations Advisor
Location: Bury with travel to Kingsway and other Head Office locations
Department: People
Direct Reports: 0
Role overview:
Established in 1981 with a single store in the North West of England, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports Fashion and Outdoor brands. The Group now has over 3,000 stores across 38 territories with a strong presence in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. In addition we operate over 200 JD Gyms throughout the UK.
The Employee Relations team deliver a professional, proactive and flexible service by providing appropriate generalist advice and support to all colleagues and managers. Driving best practice and ensuring compliance with all Company policies and procedures in line with employment legislation.
Responsibilities:
• To provide practical and effective first line employee relations advice across the Group to Line Managers and colleagues covering Retail, Gyms, Supply Chain and Head Office. This includes (but is not limited to) providing timely and accurate advice with regards to disciplinary, grievance, absence management and family friendly policies.
• Able to manage queries empathetically and in turn communicate outcomes clearly and articulately with the aim of minimising appeals.
• Act as a team player with the wider People team by sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Support and coach Line Managers to effectively manage and resolve employee relations matters through to appropriate conclusions.
• Provide support to Line Managers and the wider People team during meetings.
• Have an excellent working knowledge of up to date employment legislation, best practice and case law.
• Able to work autonomously and prioritise accordingly (with guidance and support from the People Leadership team where required).
• Be able to use Occupational Health appropriately within employee relations casework and write referrals to OH Advisors.
• Communicate with and support the People Leadership team to ensure employee relations policies and procedures are fairly and proportionately applied, whilst identifying opportunities for improvement to current practices.
• Understand the Groups’ responsibilities to statutory regulations.
• Maintain clear audit trails for all People records in accordance with GDPR regulations.
• Support in ensuring that critical monthly and annual cycle People processes are executed within the relevant timescales.
• Assist with project work when required.
Skills and Experience:
• Level 5 CIPD qualification or equivalent. Level 3 may be considered if the
candidate is able to demonstrate substantial relevant HR generalist based work
experience, with a desire to gain Level 5 qualification.
• Current in-depth knowledge of HR legislation and best practice procedures.
• Previous HR/People/ER Advisor related experience is essential, preferably in a
retail environment or another fast-paced, constantly changing People
environment, with responsibility for managing high volume complex caseloads.
• Comfortable offering advice and minute taking in formal meetings to ensure all
interactions are documented accurately and conducted appropriately.
• Good communication skills with the ability to guide and influence, and the
confidence to challenge current practices appropriately where required.
• Ability to communicate clearly and articulately with all stakeholders throughout
the business.
• Proficient knowledge of Office365 and HRIS (previous experience of Dayforce
would be advantageous).
• Accurate typing skills recognising the need for attention to detail.
• Proven experience of working within a constantly changing environment.
• Flexible to work outside of standard office hours if required to support a 24/7
operation.