Employee Relations Advisor

Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.

About us

At the centre of our UK business, Ocado Logistics is a network of high-tech, fast-paced warehouses, spokes and offices across the country. Our people are at the heart of this, and are devoted to providing a first class service centred entirely around our customers, ensuring they receive the best possible shopping experience.

Together we maximise the value of our employees and drive business results. Ocado Logistics is dedicated and focused on best serving the needs and spirit of our people.

About the role - 6 Month Contract

We have an exciting new opportunity! As an Employee Relations Advisor, you will partner with the Logistics Management and Regional People Teams to successfully fulfil our mission to operate and optimise Ocado’s platforms in the UK to deliver maximum client and customer value.

Our employee experience is at the heart of our operation, and you will provide an ER specialist service to a designated client area and to support our Managers in offering our people an outstanding employee journey with us.

This will include delivering a number of ER solutions which will enable the growth and scalability of a successful operating network. You will be part of a team of ER Specialists to provide remote advice and support to our line managers and regional people teams focusing on employee relations, employment legislation, employee data and trends.

You will be

• Providing a leading edge employee relations experience for all Logistics client groups. This includes providing strategic advice on Group People Policies and employee relations matters, providing People support to management in high level cases;

• Providing timely advice and support to Logistics managers on medium-high risk/complexity ER issues such as: disciplinaries, grievances, appeals, medium to long term absence (up to and including capability dismissals), performance management, whistle-blowing claims, complaints, Employment Tribunals and small claims. Maintain accurate and up to date records of all actions and documentation relating to cases being managed through to conclusion. Including being present in some meetings and taking notes.

• Supporting the business in organisational changes that involve individual or collective consultation and may result in redundancy or TUPE.

• Coaching and mentoring the Logistics Managers on all employee relations cases as well as skill sets and effective risk and compliance management.

• Providing pragmatic and professional expertise and advice on specific topics, e.g. family friendly policies, Long Term Sickness, diversity awareness, etc., and promote equality and diversity as an integral part of the culture of the organisation in line with Ocado’s core values;

• Providing performance management expertise and assistance to ensure a high quality workforce who enhance brand reputation; Interpret and advise on relevant current employment legislation and advise on risk and mitigation regarding employment law;

• Able to use data-driven recommendations and trend analysis to influence your Logistics Managers to make decisions and embrace initiatives that improve performance, attendance, retention and the overall employee experience and conduct internal reviews or audits of employee relations data and processes

• Leading and participating in projects and working groups to ensure the design of our ER products are fit for our end users and ensure they are implemented and used effectively to maximise the employee experience; and deliver training programmes on employee relations issues and conduct.

• Ensuring satisfactory service levels are adhered to by Group People Services in terms of ER related administration.

• Building strong working relationships with the Logistics leadership team, Legal, Logistics Generalists, and Group People Services teams to lead, support, design and champion process, policy and frameworks that align to Ocado Group and local requirements that seek to continually improve the employee experience and Ocado risk profile.

• Be at the forefront on regular benchmarking comparable to other organisations and provide insight on best practices related to employee relations.

About you

• Your proven ER experience will include advising on sensitive disciplinary and grievance issues, and you will have the ability to apply the relevant legal principles and risk assessment, mediating disputes and bringing matters to a positive conclusion.

• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and multitask when dealing with volume cases.

• CIPD qualified or relevant experience

• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to interact across all levels of management

• Experience of organisational change and restructuring programmes including redundancy and contractual variations is also key

• Relevant experience in UK employment law and/or UK employee relations in a volume driven environment,

• Up to date knowledge of UK employment law and ACAS guidelines are essential.

• PC Literate – at least intermediate level MS Office and knowledge of HR databases and systems;

• Given 24/7 operation of colleagues and offices being supported, flexibility to work outside of "normal" business hours will be required

• Full current driving licence (no more than 3 points) and the ability to travel nationwide with the occasional night away if required at a site across the network.

What we offer you

Our employee benefits are designed for you, we care about people and we’ve ensured we have a wealth of benefits that focus on your well-being. We regularly review our benefits to ensure we are supporting our employees appropriately.

• 30 days ‘working from anywhere in the world’ policy

• Wellbeing support through Apps and an Employee Assistance Programme

• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)

• Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)

• Private Medical Insurance

• 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete)

• Train Ticket loan (interest-free)

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices

• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices

• Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes

• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees

• Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary)

We’re in it together, we are proud of what we do, we can be even better