Labour Relations Specialist / Employee Relations Advisor

Job description

At EY, you’ll build a career with global scale, inclusive support and opportunities to grow, while helping us build a better working world.

Opportunity

You will provide practical guidance to Talent, Managers and business stakeholders, helping to assess issues, manage risk, apply policy consistently and reach fair, well-documented outcomes. You will advise and provide integral support on policy interpretation, misconduct, incapacity, performance management and other workplace matters, escalating complex or high-risk issues where required. Complex, sensitive or high-risk matters will be escalated to Employee Relations leadership or Investigation stakeholders as appropriate. You will maintain accurate ER records, support reporting, be meticulous in matter-record annotations and trend analysis, and contribute to continuous improvement of ER policies, processes and tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of employee and labour relations matters, including complex or sensitive cases involving managers, partners or senior stakeholders.
• Assess each matter, determine the appropriate process, gather relevant information, document findings and recommend practical next steps.
• Partner with stakeholders such as Talent, General Counsel Office (GCO), Quality & Risk Management (Q&RM), Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and business leadership to ensure matters are managed consistently, confidentially and in line with EY requirements.
• Maintain complete and accurate case records, reporting updates and supporting documentation in the relevant ER systems.
• Identify trends and recommend training, communication or process improvements to reduce risk and improve employee relations outcomes.

Skills and Attributes

• You will have experience resolving complex employee relations matters including those involving Firm Leadership (PPMDDs).
• High levels of confidentiality, discretion and professional judgement.
• Sound knowledge of South African labour relations principles, employment legislation and HR/ER best practice.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate and well-structured case summaries, outcome documents, reports and stakeholder communications.
• Strong interviewing, fact-finding and evidence assessment skills.
• Strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple matters under tight timelines.
• Excellent written communication skills and an ability to convey complex facts, perspectives, and conclusions in a way that’s clear to any audience; experience with legal writing preferred.
• Strong interviewing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across Talent, Legal, Risk and business teams, and to influence multiple constituents and engage in respectful dialogue in cases of disagreement.
• Solid networking skills and the ability to build relationships.
• Ability to work independently on recurring matters, while seeking guidance on complex or high-risk issues.
• Relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; HR qualification, industrial psychology, labour law or a related field preferred.
• Additional training or certification in labour relations, employment law, investigations, mediation, conflict management or HR practice would be advantageous.
• Ability to quickly learn the business of the Firm or have a solid understanding of internal practices and procedures.

Qualifications

• 5+ years related work experience.
• Ability to engage professionally and confidentially with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail, time management and prioritization skills, with solid track record of managing multiple projects/cases simultaneously.
• Excellent written communication skills and an ability to convey complex facts, perspectives, and conclusions in a way that’s clear to any audience.
• Strong interviewing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to build trusted relationships across Talent, Legal, Risk and business teams, and to influence multiple constituents and engage in respectful dialogue in cases of disagreement.
• Solid networking skills and the ability to build relationships.
• Ability to work independently on recurring matters, while seeking guidance on complex or high-risk issues.