Employee Relations Specialist

Chord Specialty Dental Partners • Nashville, TN

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Relations Specialist is the frontline owner of high-volume, low-to
moderate risk employee relations work. This role stabilizes the system by managing intake, documentation, and consistency with company policy and employment laws—while enabling the Sr. HRBP and HRBP to focus on strategic partnering, leader capability, and workforce planning.
Location: Nashville, TN (In-Office)
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Requirements

• 2–4 years of HR/ER experience (multi-site, field-facing environment preferred).
• Working knowledge of investigations, corrective action, documentation, and confidentiality standards.
• Strong interviewing, writing, and documentation skills (can produce clear, unbiased summaries).
• Comfort coaching managers through sensitive issues.
• Proficiency with HRIS/case systems and Microsoft 365 (Teams/SharePoint/Excel).
• Strong judgment for when to escalate
• Comfortable with conflict and difficult conversations
• Excellent written documentation skills
• Highly organized; thrives in volume
• Calm, neutral, and professional demeanor
• Able to say: “This needs to go to your HRBP.”

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems (UKG Pro preferred).
• Experience in healthcare, dental, retail, hospitality, or other high-volume people environments.
• Exposure to employment law basics (harassment/discrimination/retaliation, wage/hour, leave coordination).
• Experience building ER dashboards/trackers (case aging, themes, location heatmaps).

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations Intake & Case Management (Primary Focus – ~45–50%)
• Serve as first point of contact for ER concerns from practices
• Conduct initial intake calls (attendance, conduct, policy questions)
• Assess risk level and route cases appropriately (L1 / L2 / L3)
• Manage Level 1 ER cases independently:
• Attendance issues
• Coaching conversations
• Policy clarification
• Minor conduct concerns
• Prepare clear case summaries for escalation to HRBP/Sr HRBP Manager
• Provide real-time guidance to managers on employee relations issues, including coaching approaches, corrective action levels, and documentation requirements
• Advise leaders on policy interpretation, consistent application of standards, and HR-defensible documentation (timely, objective, fact-based).
• Documentation & Corrective Action Quality Control (~25–30%)
• Review corrective actions and documentation for:
• Policy alignment
• Consistency across practices
• Risk language
• Partner with HRBP and leaders to select appropriate corrective action (verbal, written, final, performance plan) aligned to policy and precedent.
• Coach Practice Managers on:
• How to document effectively
• When documentation is premature vs. necessary
• Maintain standardized templates and ensure proper usage
• Track progression (verbal → written → final warnings.
• Investigations – Early Stage & Support (~10–15%)
• Conduct low-risk investigations (attendance disputes, interpersonal issues)
• Draft investigation plans, interview guides, witness lists, and evidence checklists.
• Conduct interviews, gather statements, review documentation (timecards, schedules, messages,etc. where applicable), and synthesize findings.
• Escalate immediately when risk indicators appear:
• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Retaliation
• Safety concerns
• Maintain investigation files and timelines
• ER Metrics, Trends & Reporting (~10%)
• Maintain ER case logs and dashboards
• Identify recurring themes by:
• Practice
• Leader
• Role
• Flag early warning signs to HRBP/Sr HRBP Manager:
• Repeat attendance issues
• Poor documentation habits
• Leadership inconsistency
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Coordinate with Payroll/Benefits for pay impacts, leaves, and benefits considerations (as appropriate).
• Partner with Talent Acquisition for candidate/employee relations considerations tied to onboarding or early tenure issues.
• Escalate high-risk matters to Sr. HRBP/Legal promptly with thorough documentation.

Benefits

• Medical and Vision Insurance: You're eligible starting the first month after you join.
• Dental Coverage: Enjoy this benefit with $0 premium.
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match: We help you plan for your future with our matching program.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays: Take the time you need to relax and recharge.
• Employee Referral Program: Earn rewards for bringing talented individuals to our team.
• Big savings, big perks: Enjoy exclusive discounts on everything from restaurants and travel to movies and more with our employee discount program.
• Pet Insurance: We understand the importance of furry family members too.
• Cutting-edge Technology and Training: We provide the tools and resources you need to excel in your role.
• Life and Disability Insurance Options: Protect yourself and your loved ones with our coverage options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees