Employee Relations Specialist

Position Summary:

The Employee Relations Specialist supports the Employee Relations Manager in administering consistent, compliant employee relations practices across a multi-state and multi-province workforce. This role is primarily responsible for providing support and guidance to managers throughout the performance management process, including drafting and tracking performance improvement plans (PIPs), written counsels, and corrective action documentation.  The Employee Relations Specialist also provides day-to-day employee relations support by responding to employee and manager inquiries, maintaining accurate and confidential case files, and escalating complex, sensitive, or high-risk matters to the Employee Relations Manager. Success in this role requires a strong HR generalist foundation, working knowledge of employment law, sound judgment, and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with employees at all levels, along with a high degree of confidentiality. A successful Employee Relations Specialist is able to manage their time effectively, is detail oriented, a trustworthy team player, and takes pride in their work. The Employee Relations Specialist also needs to be accountable and attentive to provide excellent customer service skills when interacting with residents, associates and vendors.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Partner with regional leadership and onsite managers to develop, draft, and administer performance improvement plans (PIPs), written counsels, and other corrective action documentation, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with company policy 
• Track PIP and corrective action timelines and milestones, ensuring managers meet check-in requirements and documentation deadlines
• Coach managers on delivering performance feedback and difficult conversations in a fair, consistent, and legally defensible manner
• Review draft performance-management documentation for clarity, consistency, factual support, policy alignment, and appropriate tone before Employee Relations Manager review or approval
• Serve as a first point of contact for employee and manager questions regarding performance management, workplace policies, and general employee relations matters
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and confidential case files, including PIPs, counsels, corrective actions, and investigation notes
• Coordinate meetings and follow-up communications related to ER cases and PIPs with Regional Leadership as directed
• Support lower-complexity workplace investigations at the direction of the Employee Relations Manager by gathering documentation, conducting preliminary fact-finding, organizing relevant materials, and preparing draft case summaries
• Escalate complex, sensitive, or high-risk employee relations matters (harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and similar concerns) to the Employee Relations Manager in a timely manner
• Identify, document, and escalate potential compliance concerns related to applicable employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, EEO, and other labor standards, to the Employee Relations Manager or appropriate HR leadership
• Support the coordination and delivery of manager training related to performance management, documentation standards, and employee relations best practices
• Assist with the review, maintenance, and updating of HR policies, employee handbook provisions, and related employee relations resources to support compliance and consistency across jurisdictions
• Assist with maintaining ER-related templates, forms, checklists, trackers, policy resources, and standard work materials to support consistency across regions
• Assist with tracking and reporting on ER case volume, PIP outcomes, and trends for monthly ER reporting
• Support exit interview administration, scheduling and initial data collection, partnering with the Employee Relations Manager on trend analysis
• Actively participate in a positive team environment through teamwork, communication and excellence in service; communicate regularly with the Human Resources, Payroll and Recruiting teams
• Actively demonstrate the values of the Weidner Customer Service Vision to team members, associates and external customers

Benefits & Perks

At Weidner Apartment Homes, we value our team members and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and career growth. Eligible on-site employees enjoy:

• Health & Wellness
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential support for personal, financial, and legal matters; up to three sessions at no cost
• Financial Benefits
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match of up to 4% of your eligible income
  • Opportunities to earn leasing commissions and/or semi-annual performance-based bonuses (position dependent) tied to community performance
• Time Away from Work
  • Vacation accrual, with no usage waiting period upon accrual
  • Sick time accrual, with accrued time usage eligibility after 60 days of employment
  • Nine company-designated paid holidays annually
• Housing Benefits
  • Employee apartment discount available at Weidner communities, subject to availability and community guidelines

Join Weidner Apartment Homes and become part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your success.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive HR generalist experience, with exposure to employee relations, performance management, corrective actions, and workplace investigations
• 1+ years with experience drafting, reviewing, or administering performance improvement plans, written counsels, corrective action documentation, or related HR documentation
• Professional HR certification such as PHR or SHRM-CP, desired
• Working knowledge of employment law and HR best practices, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, EEO, and related labor standards
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive matters with professionalism, diplomacy and discretion
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases, timelines, follow-ups and documentation deadlines
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and sound judgment
• High degree of integrity and ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information
• Professional and positive demeanor and excellent interpersonal customer service skills
• Prompt, regular attendance; maintain professional appearance at all times
• Follow Weidner's Mission, Vision and Values and comply with all Weidner policies and procedures as well as all Fair Housing, local, state/provincial, and federal laws
• Work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment and/or independently
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Experience with HRIS, case management tools, Paycom, Paycom Reporting, and/or Yardi preferred; willing and able to learn new software programs
• Must agree to a criminal background check and sign an agreement for voluntary drug testing
• Valid and current driver's license and insurance
• Ability to work overtime as requested
• Ability to work in a hybrid capacity from an assigned regional office and approved remote work location, with the flexibility to support leaders and employees across multiple regions and time zones
• Ability to travel as needed