Location: Hershey, PA

Job location: Hybrid or Remote (Determined by candidate’s geographic location)

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Global Employee Experience

 

 

 

Summary of Role:

The Sr Advisor Employee Relations is a member of the Employee Relations Center of Excellence reporting to the Employee Relations Leader. The Sr Advisor Employee Relations will advise and coach Hershey’s people leaders and employees on employment matters including escalated HR policy and procedure interpretation, employee conflicts, preparing for difficult conversations, engaging employees, and performance management. This role manages the interactive process for workplace accommodation requests, and supports implementation of ER/HR strategies, programs, and policies that promote positive relationships. This role will collaborate with Strategic Talent and Business Partners, the HR Support Center, Legal, and other stakeholders to ensure a fair and consistent approach to policies and procedures. 

 

 

Role Responsibilities:

Employee Relations:

Advise people leaders and employees on issues related to policy interpretation, basic employment law, and/or compliance related matters. Escalates investigations to ER and/or Ethics and Compliance as appropriate.   Partner with leaders to develop and monitor the implementation of performance improvement plans (PIP) for non-performing employees, and reviews/approves management recommendations for employment terminations.  Build credibility and trust among employees by resolving employee concerns through an empathetic and systematic approach, clear documentation and follow-through. Proactively learns the business of client groups to create positive change and mitigates/resolves employee issues.  Supports function by conducting investigations into alleged policy and Title VII violations as needed. 

Capability Building:

Conduct one-on-one consulting/coaching with managers on performance and development-related processes.   Use data to participate in identifying and anticipating training needs within a business, region, or geography; recommends customized solutions (e.g., training, communication) to address capability gaps, and coordinates and/or delivers training.  Support leaders to prepare for difficult conversations with employees, such as severance presentation; may also support review of scripts/talking points as needed. 

HR Compliance:

Manage accommodation requests, including the interactive process with employees, evaluating requests, and coordinating appropriate accommodations in compliance with the ADA & Title VII. Collaborates with people leaders and Strategic Business and Talent Partners to develop accommodation plans and ensure their implementation as needed.  Analyze and report on respective data to assess where action can be taken to mitigate risk; present insights and make recommendations for proactive solutions to help minimize the need for ER intervention. Offer after-care support for all employee relations matters including but not limited to coaching, training, subsequent check-ins, and other actions after case closure across tiers to ensure remediation effectiveness.  Other duties as assigned.  May support ER projects and work on cross-functional projects, as needed.

 

 

 

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Demonstrated proficiency in employee and/or labor relations strategy. ​ Demonstrated experience coaching employees to drive to the right outcomes /solutions. Thorough understanding of HR policies and procedures, and knowledge of Federal and State regulations, including EEO laws and regulations. ​

 

 

 

Requirements:

Education - Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field Professional Certification in HR preferred. ​ Experience - 3-5 years progressive HR or related experience 

 

 

 

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