Employee Relations Advisor

We are hiring! We are looking to recruit two ER Advisors to join our growing ER team based in Northampton. The focus of these roles will be to coach, guide and provide employee relations advice to Line Managers through effective case management of people related issues such as: disciplinaries, performance management, employment tribunals, grievance and absence management.

This role is focused on coaching to increase the Line Manager’s capability and using our policies, processes and advice in strengthening the Wickes Great Place to Work culture whilst effectively and fairly managing difficult situations. Advice will be either telephone based or face to face coaching with Senior Manager’s for complex/high risk/sensitive cases.

Pattern of working:

Hybrid: With occasional connection days (eg 7 days per month) in Northampton SDC. There may be occasional travel to a Wickes store or our Watford Support Centre for meetings and events.

Working hours: 37.5 hours over 5 days Mon-Fri. Shifts are 8-4 or 9-5 with 30 mins for lunch plus occasional weekend on-call (around 8 weekends per year) with on-call weekend premium pay.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coach, guide and provide employee relations advice to Line Managers either on the phone or face to face with Senior Managers in high risk/sensitive or complex cases.
• Effective proactive case management of people related issues to conclusion, such as: disciplinaries, performance management, employment tribunals, grievance and absence management (including OH referrals)
• Act as SME to HRBP in any organisational change e.g. structure changes, TUPE, relocation
• Provide HR BP insight for case management trends, identifying skills/knowledge gaps, ER Metrics.
• Provide feedback and insight to ER Manager from findings when providing advice, to ensure our policies help our colleagues and Managers in mental, health and financial wellbeing.
• Support ER manager to update Employee Policies, handbooks, Line Manager Guides and templates following legislative updates, amended ways of working or best practice process changes (internal and external driven)
• Support HRBP’s through consultations and redundancy process.
• Extract and create MI to share with functions across the business & be confident to present the detail.

What are we looking for:

• CIPD - level 5 (preferred)
• Previous use of ER Case Management
• Employee policy & legislation
• Able to coach and build rapport on phone
• Written & verbal communication
• Effective listening skills
• Able to interpret data & provide insights
• Stakeholder engagement and support

What can we offer you:

You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us.

We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive bonus (2027 bonus period)
• Private Medical Healthcare
• Save-as-you-earn scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Colleague discount
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.

By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day.

We recognise the value of bringing our teams together to collaborate, support each other and build on our amazing culture. We are also encouraging our teams to work flexibly, with a blend of remote / office working.

About Us:

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues.

But it is the Wickes culture that we are really proud of. It's a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we’ll make you feel right at home.