Employee Relations Advisor

Here at c2c we take pride in being an award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex. Our customers never stand still and neither do we. We anticipate, innovate and flex around our customer’s needs and it takes a great team to do this.

We currently have a vacancy within our HR department for a full time Senior Employee Relations (ER) Advisor based in our Lower Thames Street, London office (near Fenchurch Street). Please note, this is specifically an ER role, rather than an HR Generalist. We’re looking for someone who ideally has around 3-4 years' employee relations experience.

You’ll be responsible for overseeing employee relations matters across all our business units, ensuring ER cases are concluded fairly, consistently and swiftly and expert advice is provided to our stakeholders. You will be required to support our managers and staff, ensuring our policies and procedures are followed. You will liaise with Occupational Health to support staff who require medical assessments and lead on reorganisations, TUPE cases and client group meetings.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• To act as the primary point of contact for our management staff when dealing with employee relations matters and provide dedicated support for managers with ER issues.
• Provide first-line case management of absence, disciplinaries and grievances.
• Effectively track the cases to ensure these are being completed efficiently and effectively.
• Provide HR advice and expertise on investigation matters, ensuring that these have been completed robustly and in a timely manner.
• Advise and train managers in HR policies and procedures ensuring that the advice given is legally compliant.
• Provide advice and guidance on policies and terms and conditions of employment.
• Support the Senior Employee Relations Advisor, HR Business Partner and the wider HR Team in ensuring that all HR correspondence is handled in line with internal KPIs.
• Work pro-actively with the Senior Employee Relations Advisor and HR Business Partner on complex cases, including long term sickness.
• Support managers with reviewing flexible working requests providing advice and guidance where necessary.
• Support in the completion of restructures, TUPE transfers and other organisational changes processes where directed.
• Analyse trends by maintaining the suite of internal HR KPIs and advise on where improvements can be made in the HR service provision.
• Support in the delivery of the HR Strategy and with various initiatives including: Health & Wellbeing, and embedding Values & Behaviours.
• Support the integration of the new HRIS system in the team whilst utilising current systems as it relates to HR matters.
• Manage occupational health referrals and case conference meetings to improve absence support and attendance rates.
• Support managers to create staff survey action plans each year.
• Assist with the secondment process.
• Visit Depots and Stations as required to support managers and attend meetings.
• Responsible for HR Inbox and resolving matters and/or working with Senior Employee Relations Advisor on matters that require escalation.
• Take meeting notes as needed for HR hearings/formal HR meetings as required.
• Ensure knowledge and understanding of Trade Union terms and conditions and develop good working relations and understanding of Trade Unions as it relates to train operating companies.
• Perform other reasonable tasks as they relate to the smooth running of the HR department.

What you’ll need:

• Demonstrable experience working as an Employee Relations Advisor and with case management including sickness, grievances and disciplinaries and general HR Advisor support is essential.
• Experience of working alongside Trade Unions to achieve mutually agreeable solutions to cases.
• Level 5 CIPD Qualified or equivalent experience.
• A background in change management, policy development and training would be a distinct advantage.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an outstanding attention to detail.
• Solution orientated with an ability to own complex issues and manage them through to completion.
• Computer literate and proficient in MS Office.
• A self-starter with the ability to work within a team based environment or on your own as required.
• Flexible attitude to attending other work sites across the c2c route.
• Excellent understanding of UK Employment Law.

What we offer:

• up to £44000 depending on experience
• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel on c2c and Greater Anglia and discounted travel on other National Rail services
• Access to an online benefits portal, a one-stop shop for a variety of rewards and benefits.
• Ability to buy up to 5 days extra holiday per year
• Flexible / hybrid working, with an expectation of you being in the office 3 days/wk
• Access to thousands of e-learning materials available through our LMS
• Healthcare perks including access to flu jab vouchers

c2c are committed to building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and be able to do everything to the best of their ability regardless of gender, ethnicity, age or any other protected characteristic.