Employee Relations Officer

homechoice is a leading South African homeware retailer. For over 35 years we’ve helped our customers create beautiful homes they love with an innovative range of quality products they can afford.

To play an advisory role on matters relating to legal compliance with employment law, employee misconduct and disciplinary action, poor performance incapacity, employee grievances and external dispute resolution (including representation at the CCMA). In addition, to consult on more complex cases, assist with ensuring that Homechoice is compliant with legislation governing employment, assist with research and give input into the development of policies and training material as well as capacity building of internal customers.

**What you will love doing in this role**

**Employee relations**
- Ensure that proactive labour relations legislations and company policies and procedures are properly communicated to all, consistently applied and promote co-operation and respect amongst all levels of staff to achieve stable and healthy relationships
- Advise and empower Talent Business Partners, Management and Employees to ensure adherence to / compliance with labour legislations, and company policies and procedures
- Identify and/or evaluate causes of conflict and propose appropriate corrective action
- Take ownership and be responsible for the provision of advice on discipline and grievance issues
- Consult on significant changes to terms and conditions of service (eg: opening hours, shift changes, contract of employment changes, flexible working contact centre options and potential re-structures)
- Reduce potential industrial conflict through the development of a positive employee relations environment - ensure a climate of trust and high ethical conduct amongst employees and management
- Ensure that managers are trained and developed in the necessary ER / IR requirements and policies on an annual basis or as the need may arise
- Ensure all managers are fully trained and competent in chairing of enquiries and initiating cases.

**Labour disputes**
- Represent the company at the CCMA and manage the preparation of these cases
- Ensure all relevant people attend the necessary CCMA proceedings (conciliation and arbitration) and ensure such people are prepared and coached accordingly

**Organised labour**
- Manage relationships with organised labour and liaise with Trade Unions as per the Labour Relations Act
- Co-ordinate engagements with management and committees
- Dispute resolution including the co-ordinations of bargaining processes

**Design and develop policies and procedures**
- Policy development, implementation, monitoring and review in line with business requirements and act as custodian for these policies
- Ensure that our policies are implemented and managed fairly and consistently within the business
- Always ensure that all consultations are in line with best practices, company policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with all Labour Legislation applicable to the Entity Interpreting, and conduct quality advice on ER / IR-related matters in accordance with the relevant legislation.
- Ensure enforcement and adherence to those legislation, policies and procedures by advising and monitoring management and staff

**Assist with organizational development initiatives**
- Support management with the implementation of organizational interventions and change management interventions where risks, operational or strategic business changes are identified by the business
- Facilitate the practical implementation of effective performance management based on company processes within the area of responsibility, with ongoing monitoring of the process to ensure that all related activities are conducted within the allocated timeframes
- Act as a change agent and role model, providing the support and effective mechanisms to implement major changes to the operations of the business
- Facilitate all team development processes, including workshops, exercises, or programs to enhance the cohesiveness of teams

**Reporting**
- Prepare accurate and timely talent reports as requested by management ensuring all statistics are accurate throughout
- Ensure timeous reporting and tracking of IR / ER-related matters
- Analyze reports and identify risk areas to be addressed through wellness initiatives
- Generate and issue ad hoc reports through data mining analysis to provide management with key statistics and trends identified and provide recommendations to act accordingly

**What we will love about you**

**Qualifications & Experience**
- A 3-year diploma or degree
- Minimum of 4 years' employee relations / industrial relations experience
- Solid knowledge of disciplinary and grievances procedures
- Solid experience in representing the employer at conciliation, hearings, and arbitration
- A proven track record in providing sound IR advice/guidance/support to an organisation and its employees
- Solid experience of the retail industry
- Ad