Employee and Labor Relations Consultant Human Resources

HealthPartners is currently hiring an Employee and Labor Relations Consultant. The Employee and Labor Relations Consultant provides guidance and support to leaders and HR partners in the consistent interpretation and application of Human Resources policies collective bargaining agreements and employment laws. This role serves as a trusted advisor on employee and labor relations matters requiring strong judgment communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across the organization.

The Consultant supports labor relations activities including contract interpretation grievance support and participation in collective bargaining negotiations. Working closely with HR and organizational leaders the Consultant helps manage employee relations matters such as performance management workplace behavior concerns and policy adherence. This includes conducting investigations documenting findings and recommending appropriate actions to support fair and timely resolution.

This role plays an important part in educating leaders and colleagues on HR policies employee relations practices and workplace expectations. The Consultant also assists with responses to external legal and regulatory inquiries including EEOC charges employment litigation compliance audits and regulatory surveys in partnership with senior consultants leadership and the Law Department.

The Employee and Labor Relations Consultant is part of a team of five consultants and reports to the Senior Director of Employee and Labor Relations. The role partners with business and clinical leaders across HealthPartners medical group health plan corporate shared services and institute supporting an organization of approximately 7630 employees.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources or a related fieldor an equivalent combination of education and/or experience
• Two (2) years of experience in employee relations human resources or a related field.
• Working knowledge of employment laws (e.g. FMLA ADA Title VII FLSA).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong investigation problem solving conflict resolution coaching and negotiation skills are all critical to this role.
• Ability to manage multiple cases with moderate complexity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in labor relations is strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations and advising on performance management.
• Experience in labor relations
• PHR/SPHR certification.

Hours/Location:

• M-F; core business hours.
• This is a hybrid position with an expectation of being onsite three days a week. Occasional travel to other HealthPartners locations may be required for meetings or workgroup sessions.

Responsibilities:

• Employee and Labor Relations Consultation
  • Provide guidance and policy interpretation to leaders employees and HR partners on employee and labor relations matters including policies union collective bargaining agreements and employment laws. Ensure consistent application of policies and compliance with all applicable laws and in gathering information and documentation for and manage investigations into policy violations or legal concerns (e.g. harassment discrimination workplace violence confidentiality breaches). Document findings and recommend appropriate resolutions including corrective action. Advise leaders and HR partners on performance management including coaching corrective action and separations. Assess risk recommend appropriate actions and review/approve corrective actions and separations to ensure fairness and legal compliance. Escalates complex issues.
• Labor Relations and Union Engagement
  • Provide labor relations support. Assist in preparing documentation for grievance hearings. Attend grievance meetings investigate and respond to grievances inaccordance with collective bargaining agreements and organizational policy in collaboration with senior Consultants as requested. Assist with and attend Labor Management Committees. Assist with union awareness planning and participate in strike planning. Works to maintain a collaborative and positive relationship with Union representatives.
• Accommodations
  • Partners with leaders and HR partners and Employee Health regarding leave administration ADA accommodations and return-to-work programs providing guidance to ensure consistent compliant and supportive colleague experience. Escalate complex issues.
• Legal and Regulatory Documentation and Response
  • Responds to Unemployment Compensation claims and represents organization at unemployment with preparing requests and represents the organization in regulatory compliance surveys. Prepare documents and drafts of responses to legal inquiries (e.g. EEOC MDHR WDWD) for review. Track deadlines and coordinate with legal teams on required documentation. Support mediation and settlement preparation efforts.
• Other Duties as Assigned
  • Participate in projects training sessions and process improvement initiatives.