Employee Relations Specialist

Employee Relations Specialist

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations (ER) Specialist to manage employee relations activities, workplace concerns, grievance processes, investigations, and HR compliance matters. The role will provide expert guidance to employees and managers while ensuring ER cases are handled fairly, confidentially, consistently, and in accordance with company policies and applicable labour legislation.

The successful candidate will also support the development of employee relations policies, procedures, training programs, awareness initiatives, and compliance frameworks. The role requires strong judgment, investigation skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive employee matters in a diverse and fast-paced working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Advisory

• Provide professional guidance to employees and managers on employee relations matters, workplace concerns, company policies, and employment regulations.
• Advise stakeholders on appropriate approaches to grievances, disciplinary matters, workplace conflicts, and employee appeals.
• Ensure ER cases are managed consistently, objectively, confidentially, and in accordance with established procedures.
• Provide guidance on potential legal and compliance risks associated with employee relations matters.
• Support management in resolving complex employee issues while balancing employee concerns with business requirements.

Employee Grievances & Investigations

• Manage employee grievance and concern channels, ensuring cases are properly recorded, assessed, investigated, and resolved.
• Conduct impartial investigations into allegations involving misconduct, policy violations, workplace behavior, and ethical concerns.
• Collect and review relevant evidence, documentation, and statements while maintaining confidentiality throughout the investigation process.
• Mediate workplace conflicts and facilitate constructive resolution where appropriate.
• Participate in grievance, appeal, and disciplinary hearings as required.
• Recommend appropriate corrective or disciplinary measures based on investigation findings, company policies, and applicable employment regulations.
• Track open cases and ensure timely follow-up and closure.

Ethics & Speak-Up Programs

• Support and administer employee Speak Up, ethics, and workplace concern channels.
• Promote awareness of ethical standards and encourage employees to raise concerns through appropriate channels.
• Support investigations related to alleged ethical or policy violations.
• Assist with Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, and other business ethics initiatives.
• Monitor ethics-related cases and identify recurring trends or areas of potential risk.
• Prepare reports and management insights relating to Speak Up cases, disciplinary actions, grievances, and other ER activities.

Policy & Compliance Management

• Review and maintain employee relations policies, procedures, guidelines, and related documentation.
• Ensure HR policies and ER processes remain aligned with applicable GCC employment and labour laws and organizational requirements.
• Support the development and implementation of HR policy frameworks and governance processes.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), workflows, and process guidelines.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve employee relations processes.
• Support compliance assessments and due diligence activities related to HR and ethics policies.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative developments that may affect employee relations practices.

Training & Awareness

• Develop and deliver employee relations and workplace ethics training programs.
• Prepare training materials and awareness resources for employees, managers, and HR teams.
• Conduct introductory ethics and ER awareness sessions for new employees.
• Support ongoing training for managers and employees on workplace policies, employee conduct, grievance procedures, and Speak Up channels.
• Develop communication campaigns to improve awareness of employee relations and ethical standards.
• Promote a workplace culture based on integrity, respect, fairness, and accountability.

Reporting & Analytics

• Monitor ER trends, case volumes, resolution times, disciplinary actions, grievances, and other relevant indicators.
• Develop reports and dashboards covering key employee relations and compliance metrics.
• Analyze Speak Up and ER case data to identify trends, recurring issues, and potential organizational risks.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommend improvements to strengthen ER effectiveness.
• Provide management with clear, concise insights and recommendations based on ER data and case analysis.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records relating to employee relations activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationships with employees, managers, HR teams, senior leadership, legal advisors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external specialists on complex employee relations and employment law matters.
• Support HR strategic projects and initiatives involving employee relations, compliance, ethics, and workplace culture.
• Assist the Line Manager with ER projects, process improvements, and organizational initiatives.
• Communicate sensitive information clearly and professionally while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

Candidate Requirements

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Employment Law, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in Employee Relations, Human Resources, HR Compliance, or a similar function.
• Previous GCC experience is required, preferably within a complex or multi-cultural organization.
• Strong knowledge of employee relations practices and employment/labour legislation, particularly UAE Labour Law.
• Proven experience managing employee grievances, investigations, disciplinary procedures, workplace conflicts, and employee appeals.
• Experience in developing HR policies, procedures, SOPs, and compliance documentation.
• Understanding of HR risks, workplace ethics, employee conduct, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supporting Speak Up, ethics, grievance, or whistleblowing programs will be an advantage.
• Strong project management and process improvement capabilities.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret legislation, policies, case information, and HR data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex policies and legislative requirements clearly.
• High level of confidentiality, integrity, impartiality, and professional judgment.
• Excellent attention to detail and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple sensitive cases and priorities in a demanding environment.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Key Skills

• Employee Relations
• Employee Grievance Management
• Workplace Investigations
• Disciplinary Procedures
• UAE Labour Law
• GCC Employment Law
• HR Compliance
• Ethics & Code of Conduct
• Speak Up / Whistleblowing Programs
• Conflict Resolution & Mediation
• HR Policy Development
• SOP & Process Development
• Case Management
• HR Reporting & Analytics
• Risk Assessment
• Employee Engagement
• Stakeholder Management
• Training & Awareness