Gwinnett Country Board of Commissioners - Lawrenceville, GA
posted 4 months ago
As part of a newly established team within the Human Resources department, the Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for managing employee relations inquiries and investigations within the County. This includes handling employee grievances and investigations, ADA reasonable accommodations requests and the interactive process, mediating conflicts between employees and/or management, delivering training on performance management and unlawful harassment, and resolving complex issues within departments. This role will have the unique opportunity to shape the section's future, contribute to the development of best practices, and play a vital role in enhancing employee engagement and retention across the organization. The Employee Relations Specialist will meet and engage with employees to discuss inquiries, grievances, investigations, ADA accommodations, and other employee relations issues, ensuring a responsive and supportive HR presence. They will log and record details of all investigations and ADA accommodation requests, compile detailed reports and memorandums that document findings from inquiries and investigations, and outline recommendations, next steps, and resolutions. Additionally, the specialist will mediate conflicts between employees and management to foster a positive work environment and resolve disputes effectively. This position also involves delivering training sessions focused on preventing unlawful harassment in the workplace, promoting awareness, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. The Employee Relations Specialist will lead the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests, working closely with employees to understand their needs and ensure legal compliance. They will serve as the subject matter expert on federal and state discrimination laws, including but not limited to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA, providing guidance to employees and management regarding these regulations and related policies to ensure consistent application and understanding across the organization. Furthermore, the specialist will review HR and departmental policies and procedures and provide recommendations to leadership to ensure policies and procedures reflect current laws, regulations, and County practices. They will foster strong collaborative relationships with HR colleagues and other departmental stakeholders to ensure a unified approach to Employee Relations and HR initiatives, and participate in HR projects and initiatives that impact employee relations, contributing to the overall improvement of HR services and the employee experience.