Employee Relations Manager

TJX Europe

At TJX Europe, every day brings new opportunities for growth, exploration, and achievement. You'll be part of our vibrant team that embraces diversity, fosters collaboration, and prioritises your development. Whether you're working in our Distribution Centers, Corporate Offices, or Retail Stores-TK Maxx & Homesense, you'll find abundant opportunities to learn, thrive, and make an impact. Come join our TJX team-a Fortune 100 company and the world's leading off-price retailer.

Job Description:

The Employee Relations Manager for the UK and ROI is part of the European Employee Relations (ER) Centre of Expertise team, supporting the delivery of ER strategy and specialist services.

Acting as a subject matter expert for ER, you will provide a comprehensive, commercial employee relations service to multiple business partners in the Ireland Stores, UK Distribution and Head Office functions, as well as those based in other countries who have associates in these jurisdictions. You will drive compliance and provide advice consistent with UK and ROI employment legislation, Company policies, business objectives and TJX culture. Working in close collaboration with the HR Business Partners and HR Service Centre, you will coach and advise on all people management-related issues and provide support on strategic ER activity.

• Provide commercial ER advice to service users of all levels, compliant with employment legislation and HR policy / procedure, ensuring alignment with business objectives, TJX values and culture.
• Act as the subject matter expert for ER case activity in the Ireland region of Stores and UK Distribution and Head Office functions, ensuring the provision of high-quality advice and guidance to relevant service users and stakeholders.
• Provide subject matter expertise pursuant to the locales of ROI & NI to the wider Centre of Expertise, as required.
• Act as a point of escalation for HRBPs and the HR Service Centre (HRSC) Cases team to advise on high-risk ER issues, covering topics such as conduct, capability, grievance and absence, that:
  • Pose a financial or reputational risk to the business.
  • Have a higher degree of complexity that require more than standard policy-driven advice.
  • Require a hands-on, strategic and influential approach, as opposed to manager coaching.
  • Include complex and/or sensitive topics, such as dismissal, harassment, discrimination and settlement negotiation.
• Coach and advise the HR Service Centre (HRSC) Cases team with case queries, ensuring a robust and consistent approach.
• Provide strategic guidance to HR Business Partners on matters of project activity and change, such as restructures, redundancy and contract variation.
• Provide direct support to Store and Distribution senior leadership teams on matters of strategy or complexity.
• Provide on-site, face-to-face support when required.
• Review relevant case documentation, including letters, statements and reports.
• Manage and facilitate Early Conciliation processes between relevant business stakeholders, Labour Relations Agency (LRA) and ACAS.
• Escalate appropriately any issues that have potentially significant financial or reputational risk to the Manager of ER / AVP Complex Cases and European Reputation teams.
• Provide key stakeholders with insight into risks, trends and areas of improvement through the analysis of ERMI and case reviews.
• Provide regular updates on key ER activity to HRBPs and senior managers.
• Maintain and update own knowledge of HR best practice and employment legislation, as well as developments impacting our business areas. Keeping abreast of upcoming development and advise on any required changes to policy and practice.

• Manage and coordinate all tribunal claims with the internal Legal team and external legal providers, including:
  • Working in partnership with the HRBP and local managers, gather all relevant information / documentation to enable a response to a claim within necessary timescales.
  • Assist with queries from the legal provider on points of policy / procedure relating to the claim.
  • Assist with coordinating internal disclosure processes and bundle collation.
  • Seek approval of legal costs from relevant stakeholders.
  • Liaise with internal stakeholders and external legal providers on matters of case strategy and merit.
• Manage and coordinate relevant ER cases with the internal Legal team and external legal providers as required, including:
  • Facilitation of letter reviews and other correspondence.
  • Supporting business stakeholders with queries and matters of potential litigation risk.
• Maintain a record of all claims for the Ireland Stores and UK Distribution functions, including key dates and actions.

• Ensure compliance with ROI & NI legislation by the coordination, preparation and submission of pursuant external reports (for example, compliance with the Fair Employment Code of Practice by annual delivery of the Article 55 Review).
• In partnership with the Senior ER Compliance Specialist and Manager of ER, provide an advisory service for immigration / right to work queries for UK and ROI, and support on cases of expiry and dismissal.

• Lead on ER-related projects as required, including:
  • Ensure the delivery of projects as identified by the Manager of ER, Head of ER or other relevant stakeholders.
  • Provide updates to project sponsors and other key stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with other stakeholders across the Centre of Expertise and wider business, as necessary.
• Support HRBPs with strategic ER projects and change management activity.
• Represent ER on projects facilitated by the Centre of Expertise and wider business, providing subject matter expertise as required.

• Monitor compliance with policy and legal requirements, advising on areas in need of improvement and providing ad hoc reports and presentation material.
• Support the on-going review of UK & ROI policies and procedures in line with the ER strategy, including:
  • Supporting with the drafting, reviewing and updating of pursuant toolkits and letter templates, as required.
  • Support the implementation and communication plans of new or updated policies, as required.
  • Coordinate the operationalisation of new and revised policies with the HR Service Centre:
    • Ensuring information is trained and cascaded across the team.
    • Reviewing and developing HR Service Centre template letters in line with the policy review schedule.
    • Keeping a check on version control / ensuring only latest version templates are being used.
    • Keeping regular review of effectiveness of implementation and identifying any gaps of further actions required.

• Strong subject matter expertise in ER with high degree of knowledge and experience for the ROI and UK (e.g. case management, HR policy, legal compliance).
• Experience of operating at a senior advisory level.
• Confident in the provision of advice, and able to challenge where necessary.
• Excellent influential, relationship building and communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Ability to stay connected across dispersed organisational and geographic boundaries.
• Resourceful self-starter, able to work independently across multiple locations and manage own diary commitments.
• Demonstrable ability to build relationships and engage with a range of cross-functional stakeholders to achieve results.
• Confident personal style, but flexible and open to alternative solutions.
• A creative problem solver.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Can deal effectively with ambiguity.
• High degree of integrity.
• Well-developed IT skills with experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting data.
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organised and structured way of working.
• Experience of working within a retail or similar fast-paced, multi-site environment is desirable.
• Ideally CIPD qualified / part-qualified, or equivalent.