Employee Relations Specialist

Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Employee Relations Specialist

People Services | Watford

Project Role - Fixed Term Contract, 6-12 monhts

Help shape how we manage, support and engage our people at Canada Life UK.

We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations Specialist to join our People Services division in Watford. You will be a trusted expert for ER casework and change activity, helping leaders and HR colleagues to manage employee relations matters confidently, fairly and in line with our policies and regulatory responsibilities.

The opportunity

Provide specialist ER advice on day-to-day case management, including grievance, disciplinary, absence and performance and change management matters.

Support People Relations Partners and operational leaders across Canada Life UK, acting as the first point of escalation for BAU ER issues

Help support ourevolving People Services operating model to build ER expertise in the function and people management capability in the business

Contribute to People Leader training initiatives that promote confident, independent management of absence, performance and conflict management

Work on defined caseloads and action plans that address areas of concern, helping to drive improved outcomes for colleagues and the business

Escalate more complex or higher risk matters to the Employee Relations Partner in a timely and well-judged way

You will be seen as an SME and trusted adviser, taking a calm, measured and commercial approach to ER activity and fostering a collaborative, supportive culture.

What you’ll do

Building strong relationships within the ER and People Relations Partners community and across People Services, earning credibility as a subject matter expert

Acting as an escalation point for People Relations Partners on ER cases, ensuring objectives are clear, deadlines are met and developmental support is provided

Maintaining and supporting the improving ER processes and supporting legislative compliance, including input to policy updates and process improvements

Supporting change programmes across Canada Life UK, working with ER and PRP colleagues on CL and PS change projects, including organisational change activity

Ensuring accurate ER data capture in the ER case tracker, supporting regulatory and internal reporting and helping to identify trends and themes that require action

Supporting external relationships with providers such as occupational health and outplacement services to support internal processes

Collaborating with Learning to deliver refresher training on People Policies and to build management confidence in handling ER matters

You will also help ensure that ER activity is controlled, monitored and reported in line with our risk management programmes and regulatory requirements.

What you’ll bring to the role

Experience in an operational HR Generalist / Adviser role with a strong ER focus, or in a dedicated ER Specialist role

Proven background managing ER casework, including grievance, disciplinary, absence and performance management

Experience supporting organisational change projects, particularly redundancy processes end to end

Experience working within an HR / ER team in a financial services or professional services environment would be desirable

A commercial, pragmatic approach to ER, engaging confidently with People Leaders and help in finding creative, fair solutions to people matters

Qualifications

Essential: Educated to degree level

Desirable: Workplace Mediation OCN accreditation

Desirable: CIPD qualified

Your skills and behaviours

Build strong, cross functional relationships and collaborate effectively

Communicate clearly and logically, adapting your style to different audiences

Show sound judgement in problem solving and decision making, especially in complex situations

Plan and organise effectively, managing a variety of assignments and prioritising key issues

Maintain a mature, constructive and professional presence, even in challenging circumstances

Demonstrate operational excellence, continuously improving processes and ways of working

Understand risk and regulatory requirements and take them into account in all ER activity

Please apply with your CV and a short summary of your relevant ER / HR experience and qualifications.

Benefits of working at Canada Life

We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.

How we work at Canada Life

Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.

We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.

Diversity and inclusion

Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.

“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK

We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.