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 Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury has always been a market town, as shown by its distinctive roads to Telford, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Welshpool and Ludlow. During the Industrial Revolution the town was linked by Shrewsbury Canal, which linked to the Shropshire canal, but again, it was used more to bring goods in than to take them out – the town remained largely unindustrialised. Railways also came in the nineteenth century, making Wolverhampton and the North and South of England easily accessible.
The town does have a thriving light industry scene, and has two important business parks, Shrewsbury Business Park and the Battlefield Enterprise Park. Sometimes Head of Employee Relations or similar jobs turn up in Shrewsbury or the surrounding area simply because it’s a relatively isolated town that has a large demand for goods to be brought in.
Although Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, it is actually only the second largest in the county (after Telford), but still has a sizeable population of around 100,000. As it is so close to the Welsh border, it acts as a magnet for many of the Welsh towns and villages along the country’s eastern side as well as those in the surrounding area. This has led to Shrewsbury becoming a very healthy shopping town; it is also a very pleasant place to live, with much of its medieval town centre still standing. Shrewsbury does have one very notable claim to fame, too – it was the birthplace of Charles Darwin.
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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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