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 Runcorn
It might be difficult to imagine it now, but Runcorn was once a celebrated spa town and health retreat right up to the Industrial Revolution, whereupon its prime location made its industrialisation rapid. The town is located on the south bank of the River Mersey just before it flows east to the Wirral peninsula and Liverpool. The last bridge over the Mersey passes between Runcorn and Widnes; it is a railway bridge directly adjacent to the impressive steel-arch bridge that takes advantage of a natural outcrop, but still has a single span of 330m. For a time there were three crossings, including a transporter bridge, but this was dismantled in 1961. A brand new crossing has been planned which will ease congestion on the roads.
Runcorn’s main industry has always been, and remains, chemicals. Chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen and polymers have been produced there for over a hundred years. The town is served by a mainline railway (Liverpool to London) and no fewer than three canals – the Manchester Ship, the Bridegwater and the Weaver Navigation. The town had a busy dockyard up until the post-war period, when it fell into decline.
The town remains an industrial and commercial hub in the immediate vicinity, with several large industrial estates, trading estates and retail parks in and around the town, thanks to massive regeneration efforts in the 1970s and 1980s. Runcorn has a large new town that was built to house the overspill from Liverpool. With the M56 to Manchester, links to Liverpool and Chester and a good rail and waterway network, there are several distribution centres in and around the town, making Runcorn an excellent place to look for 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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