Employee Relations Specialist

Aston Carter•Minneapolis, MN

4d•$25 - $35•Remote

About The Position

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as a centralized subject matter expert responsible for supporting and resolving complex employee relations matters across a multi-state organization. This role alleviates transactional and investigative responsibilities from HR Business Partners so they can focus on strategic initiatives. Operating within a developing HR service delivery model, the specialist helps establish a structured approach to employee relations by managing investigations, guiding leaders, and ensuring consistent, compliant outcomes. The position requires strong critical thinking skills, comfort working in ambiguity, and the ability to build and refine processes in an evolving environment.

Requirements

Proven experience handling employee relations matters and conducting investigations.
Strong understanding of employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, and related state regulations.
Demonstrated experience in human resources with a focus on employee relations, risk mitigation, and policy compliance.
Ability to conduct objective investigation and analysis of employee concerns and policy violations.
Strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in complex or ambiguous situations.
Excellent written documentation skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, and compliant case records.
Strong verbal communication skills, with the ability to guide leaders through sensitive discussions and corrective actions.
Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt effectively in a changing environment and evolving HR service delivery model.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and basic data entry for documentation and case tracking.
Associate degree plus relevant professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Experience supporting multi-site or multi-state organizations.
Experience working in healthcare or another highly regulated industry.
Exposure to centralized HR or shared-services models.
Experience working closely with HR Business Partners in an advisory or support capacity.
Experience managing workflows and triage processes for employee relations or HR case management.
Familiarity with handling insurance-related claims or policy violation cases is beneficial.

Responsibilities

Manage employee relations cases involving workplace concerns, policy violations, and performance-related issues across multiple locations.
Conduct timely, thorough, and objective investigations into employee relations matters.
Gather, analyze, and document facts and findings, and provide clear, well-reasoned recommendations for resolution.
Prepare clear, well-organized documentation that supports compliance and potential legal review.
Partner with leaders and HR stakeholders to provide practical guidance on employee relations matters and best practices.
Support leaders in conducting difficult conversations, implementing corrective actions, and managing performance issues.
Determine appropriate escalation paths and routing of employee concerns within a new HR operating structure.
Assist in building and refining employee relations workflows as part of a broader HR transformation initiative.
Help define how employee relations cases are triaged, prioritized, and managed from intake through closure.
Identify gaps, bottlenecks, or inefficiencies in employee relations processes and recommend improvements.
Ensure alignment with employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, and related state regulations, as well as internal policies.
Maintain consistency and fairness in employee relations outcomes across multiple states and sites.
Support risk identification and mitigation efforts through strong documentation, accurate data entry, and robust case management practices.
Utilize tools such as Microsoft Office to organize case files, track workflows, and maintain accurate records.