Employee Relations and HR Policy Specialist/Vice President

Employee Relations and HR Policy Specialist/Vice President

12 Months in Initially

London

Employee Relations

To work with UK-based managers and HR Business Partners (HRBPs) to address workplace conflicts by aiming to resolve issues in a manner that creates a positive culture and healthy work environment. To minimise legal risk for the Bank by working with the Legal Counsel (internal and external) to provide HR and managers with Employee Relations (ER) advice and guidance as to how to effectively deal with employees, especially in complex and difficult situations. To coordinate and monitor live ER matters, ensuring that these are progressed efficiently and swiftly and in compliance with the Bank's policies and procedures.Assist in building ER capability in the organisation and HR function.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations

• Be the key point of contact between the HRBP's and for ER matters.
• Be the subject matter expert for all ER matters, delivering consistent and appropriate ER advice and support to management and HR in a timely manner. Use your knowledge of employment law and the organisation's policies and practices to propose recommendations and solutions, while balancing risk and business objectives. This may include advice in relation to grievances, disciplinary processes, appeals, redundancies, terminations, performance management, long term sickness absence, speak up or whistle-blower complaints and employment tribunal action.
• Take the lead on live ER cases (predominantly in the UK) and manage to conclusion in a timely manner, providing regular updates to relevant HRBPs, management and other stakeholders. Conduct thorough investigations into issues as necessary, making recommendations for action. Prepare relevant paperwork and investigation materials, coordinate investigations, arrange hearings, brief hearing managers, manage consultations with employees and maintain excellent records.
• Support regional HRBPs as required with ER cases, for example by conducting investigations.
• Support the HRBPs and the businesses through change management initiatives including restructures and any subsequent integration, harmonisation and/or simplification, acquisitions and outsourcings.
• Manage DSARs, together with AskHR and external counsel/support where required.
• Maintain a central tracker of ER cases across EMEA, ensuring cases are managed and progressed efficiently and accurate records are maintained. Ensure all internal reporting of ER case load (eg to Risk and management) is managed in a timely and accurate manner. Track ER costs for HR where needed and specifically those associated with employee litigation and disputes.

Policies and Procedures

• Support in the updating and maintenance of effective HR and ER processes, policies, practices and principles to ensure consistency, compliance with regulatory and employment law and best practice and mitigation of risks in a regulated environment. This includes ensuring that policies are appropriately implemented and updated across EMEA. This will involve working together with the HR Policy, Regulation and Governance team and the Senior Employment Legal Counsel.
• Support the regular review process of the Employee Handbooks (Permanent, Temporary Workers and Agency Workers).
• Manage internal governance and approval actions required for policy implementation and changes.
• Assist the Senior Employment Legal Counsel to monitor changes to employment law and practices across EMEA and ensure that these are communicated to relevant stakeholders and integrated into existing policies and practices.
• Assist the Senior Employment Legal Counsel in the maintenance of existing employment document templates and the development of guidance, FAQs, additional templates etc.
• Assist the Senior Employment Legal Counsel and the Learning & Development team in the co-ordination and development of educational workshops for HRBPs and managers on policies, ensuring they are upskilled to deal with people in a fair, consistent and effective manner.
• Assist with ad hoc Bank and HR projects as required

Experience

• HR qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of managing a range of complex and sensitive ER cases to resolution in the UK. Policy experience, or a demonstrable interest in policy development, is also required.
• You will have gained this experience preferably within the financial services sector and have an understanding of the regulatory environment and in particular, the impact of SMCR on employment policies and practices.
• Good understanding of UK employment law, and how to apply this in a commercial setting.
• Knowledge of employment legislation principles across EMEA is an asset but not required.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing, with strong attention to detail
• Possess strong influencing, negotiation and communication skills, experience dealing with multiple stakeholders in a complex structure.
• Coaching and facilitation skills are an advantage.
• To be open and approachable with a team working and collaborative approach, while able to operate with a good degree of autonomy.
• Strong organisational skills
• Resilience