Employee Relations Advisor

February 20, 2025

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Full Time

Northampton, Northamptonshire

Competitive + Bonus + Salary

February 20, 2025

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Job description

<div>Join our HR team in Northampton as an Employee Relations Advisor! You will provide coaching, guidance, and employee relations advice to Line Managers, effectively managing cases related to disciplinaries, performance, grievances, and absence.  Your focus will be on empowering Line Managers to utilise our policies and processes, fostering a positive workplace culture while handling challenging situations fairly. You will provide advice via telephone and in-person coaching for Senior Managers on complex and sensitive cases. Working Pattern: <ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Remote from home 3 days per week and Northampton office x2 days per week (Usually Mon/Tues)</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">39 hours over 5 days (Mon-Fri 8am-5) x 4 days and (9am-5) x 1 day</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Weekend emergency cover 1 in 4 (£50 for whole weekend) £50 per day (bank holiday)</li></ul> Key Responsibilities:<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Coach, guide and provide employee relations advice to Line Managers either on the phone or face to face with Senior Managers in high risk/sensitive or complex cases</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Effective proactive case management of people related issues to conclusion, such as: disciplinaries, performance management, employment tribunals, grievance and absence management (including OH referrals)</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Act as SME to HRBP in any organisational change e.g. structure changes, TUPE, relocation</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Provide HR BP insight for case management trends, identifying skills/knowledge gaps, ER Metrics</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Provide feedback and insight to ER Manager from findings when providing advice, to ensure our policies help our colleagues and Managers in mental, health and financial wellbeing.</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Support ER manager to update Employee Policies, handbooks, Line Manager Guides and templates following legislative updates, amended ways of working or best practice process changes (internal and external driven)</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Support HRBP’s through consultations and redundancy process</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Extract and create MI to share with functions across the business & be confident to present the detail</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Run workshops to upskill managers on ER topics using the content and framework provided by Vista to ensure consistency in our approach</li></ul> What are we looking for:<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">CIPD - level 5 (preferred)</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Employee policy & legislation knowledge</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ER best practise knowledge</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Able to coach and build rapport on phone</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Written & verbal communication</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Effective listening skills</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Able to interpret data & provide insights</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Stakeholder engagement and support</li></ul> What can we offer you?You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us.  We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes: <ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Competitive bonus</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Save-as-you-earn scheme</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Private Medical and Life Assurance</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Contributory pension scheme</li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Colleague discount </li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme</li></ul> Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support. You’ll work from our Support Centre in Watford, where our Marketing team are based, along with our other support functions.  We recognise the value of bringing our teams together to collaborate, support each other and build on our amazing culture.  We are also encouraging our teams to work flexibly, with a blend of remote / office working.  About Us: Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market.  With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues.  But it is the Wickes’ culture that is considered its best kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home. </div><div> </div><div>Vacancy Reference #</div><div> </div><div>Please contact us here if you require any adjustments within the application process.  If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage you will have an opportunity to inform us when we invite you to interview. Please note, this link is only for reasonable adjustments required - general enquiries, or direct CV applications cannot be accepted via this form.</div>

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