Head of Employee Relations Jobs
As companies get larger, the workforce can become a powerful group. Industrial disputes are a reality of running a company, and managed badly they can reduce productivity, worry investors and hand advantages to competitors. That’s why many companies employ a head of employee relations. This role has the task of liaising with the workforce’s representatives, be they employees, shop stewards or third party union reps, to ensure relations between them and the senior management are optimal to the success and productivity of the company.
The head of employee relations is called upon to settle grievances and deal with disciplinary proceedings in a way that is seen to be fair, balanced and consistent. There are also health and safety considerations to contend with, and other aspects of employment law that affect the sector. Depending on the size of the company and the complexity of the employment picture, the head may also be asked to create a team of employee relations staff who oversee certain areas of the business.
The skills required
The overriding skill for this job is a demonstrable ability to deal with the reasonable demands of employees in a way that keeps them satisfied while maintaining maximum profitability and stability for the company. This can be a tough job, although expectations can be managed by ensuring employees’ rights and the company’s expectations of them are communicated to them at the contract stage.
Experience of dealing with unions is a bonus that will stand you in good stead in certain industries. An ability to foster relationships where employees can recognize the benefits of a harmonious atmosphere will be a valuable asset in the role. Avoiding disputes by constant communication with employees and/or their representatives and the board, plus any HR managers and directors, is key, so a CV that shows you have maintained good relations between employees and management will be useful.
Head of Employee Relations Jobs in Chester
Chester is a city on the eastern tip of Cheshire, so far to the east in fact that parts of the city are actually in Wales. The city’s old football stadium actually straddled the border so that one of its goals was in Wales, the other in England. The new ground, the Deva Stadium, is entirely in Wales – but has an English car park! The name Deva comes from Chester’s Roman name. The city still ahs most of its Roman walls and there are Roman excavations in the city, but the architectural style inside the city is much more modern: Tudor, Victorian and Medieval.
The majority of the city, and all of the walled area, is situated in a natural semi-moat formed by the River Dee. Although pleasure trips go along the Dee, it isn’t navigable in and out of the city, but throughout history canals, railways and roads have connected the city with Cheshire, the Wirral Peninsula, North Wales and Wrexham. Chester is at the end of the M56 and M53 which enter its north side, and southwards it is connected by major A-roads.
Despite its somewhat gentrified appearance and affluent populace, Chester does have a relatively strong industrial heritage, although the main sources of income and employment nowadays are retail, tourism, education and government. However, the economically active population with a huge demand for goods and services does mean that Chester has a thriving logistics, supply chain and procurement sector. For this reason, it is a good place to find Head of Employee Relations work.
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Find Head of Employee Relations Jobs with Cast UK
In a changing business landscape, it’s more vital than ever to have employees working with management to maintain profitability, and that’s why many companies are looking to hire specialist employee relationship managers. If you have experience that you could bring to this role, call Cast UK today on 0333 121 3345.
Cast UK is a recruitment consultancy that deals solely with management and executive level posts. We build relationships with companies so clients know they can rely on us to find them the best candidates for their management roles. In turn, we point candidates to the companies that are searching for people to fill their management vacancies. It’s a win-win situation, and employee relations specialists know what that feels like.
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