Employee Relations Manager
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Total years of experience :16 years, 0 Months
Provide key guidance to managers and HR managers regarding disciplinaries, grievances and investigations, and other employee relations issues (such as disability discrimination law, performance management, flexible working, and data protection). Ensure company compliance with current employment laws. Maintain corporate policies and procedures. Liaise with external law firms. Draft contracts of employment and contracts for services. Play key support role in restructurings, outsourcings, risk mitigation initiatives, and training.
• Conducted in-depth and highly sensitive investigations with impartiality and efficiency.
• Quickly established effective working relationships with all HR and business stakeholders.
• Quickly absorbed and confidently advised on relevant UK employment laws.
• Delivered sign-on of all 600 internal contractors to confidentiality agreements, streamlining management of non-full time workers.
• Played key supportive role in major organisational relocation to global services hub, facilitating smooth transition of HR and business functions.
• Strong delivery focus recognised at appraisal.
Provided in-depth expertise regarding labour law and employee relations for Australia’s largest personal / commercial insurer and regional bank. Guided executive-level leadership regarding reduction of liability, hiring, labour, and litigation. Reviewed and advised regarding enterprise agreements and termination claims. Liaised with external law firms regarding employee disputes and claims. Managed union relations. Ensured corporate compliance with labour and prudential legislation. Prepared employment contracts and deeds of release. Served as key company representative before discrimination and labour tribunals.
• Reduced average settlement rate to AUD $1, 105 through expert management of more than 25 labour tribunal cases.
• Facilitated avoidance of exposure to AUD $1.7 million in corporate penalties by spearheading compliance with major reforms to Australian privacy law.
• Managed over 82 exit processes with 0 successful unfair dismissal claims and consulted with global companies regarding over 31 restructuring initiatives.
• Stepped in to consult regarding optimal renewal of corporate collective agreement.
Provided key guidance and advice to corporate clients in industries spanning pharmaceuticals, aviation, and retail as well as government agencies regarding collective agreement-making, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, unfair dismissal and discrimination claims, transfer of employee entitlements, and compliance with key legislation. Prepared legal documents including affidavits, employment contracts, and deeds of release.
• Guided large retail client in navigating collective agreement during period of transition in labour law landscape.
Advised large corporate clients regarding employee disputes and unfair dismissal allegations, damages and discrimination, and legislative compliance issues. Assisted in negotiating collective agreements. Prepared key legal documents and contracts. Assisted in transition of industrial instruments to new systems. Assured compliance with labour and other key legislation.
• Represented key clients in diverse business sectors during legal reform process before Australian labour tribunals.