Employee Relations Specialist Job at Orlando Utilities Commission in Orlando

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to join the Employee Experience division. At OUC, we don’t just work – we’re building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations. We are looking for a proactive, resilient, and relationship-driven HR professional to support a positive, compliant, and productive work environment. In this hands‑on role, you will assist with employee concern intake, conduct initial fact‑finding for routine ER cases, guide managers on policy interpretation, support performance and discipline processes, and help ensure consistent, fair application of policies across the organization. You will collaborate closely with HR leadership, business partners, and employees while contributing to case documentation, SOP development, compliance tasks, and data reporting that helps identify trends and opportunities for improvement. OUC’s mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions. Why You’ll Love Working Here: Be part of a mission-driven team that values people‑first thinking. Gain immediate impact through shadowing and strategic projects. Enjoy a collaborative, supportive HR environment where your expertise matters. Opportunities for learning, growth, and development in a dynamic organization. What you will do: Serve as the first point of contact for employee complaints and concerns. Provide clear, empathetic, and unbiased counsel to employees and managers on HR policies, performance issues, workplace disputes, and more. Conduct initial investigations and elevate complex cases appropriately. Assist with counseling and termination meetings. Draft and track warnings, coaching notes, and investigative documentation. Monitor and report on trends related to employee engagement, retention, performance, and compliance. Stay current on employment laws and ensure related policies and postings are up to date. Partner with payroll, HRIS, and legal teams to handle unemployment claims and reporting. Conduct exit interviews and analyze results for actionable insights. Collaborate with the Employee Engagement team on survey findings and focus area development. The ideal candidate will have: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field. Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Human Resources with a focus on employee relations. Demonstrated experience in: Counseling employees and managers Conducting investigations and resolving workplace conflicts Applying employment laws and organizational policies Using HRIS, case management, or ERP systems Experience supporting technical, craft, or skilled trades employees, as well as leadership teams. Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills with the ability to remain neutral and unbiased when handling sensitive matters. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook). Valid Driver’s License (required). SHRM or HRCI certification preferred. OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes to cite a few: Competitive compensation Low‑cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period. OUC’s Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully-funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account. Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time. Paid parental leave. Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities. Wellness incentives and free access to all on‑site OUC fitness facilities. Access to family‑oriented recreational areas. Paid Conference and Training Opportunities. Free downtown parking. Hybrid work schedule. Salary Range: $66,248.48 – $85,000.00 annually (commensurate on experience) Location: Reliable Plaza 100 W. Anderson St. Orlando, FL 32801 Job Purpose: The Employee Relations Specialist will engage in the administration and execution of the employee relations function in collaboration with Employee Experience (EE) leadership and team members. This includes assisting in the oversight of policies and procedures, employee counseling, investigations, conflict resolution, data analysis of trends, and metrics reporting. The Employee Relations Specialist works closely with business partners, management, leadership, and employees to create a positive work environment that supports organizational goals and objectives, while remaining in full compliance with all federal, state and local laws and OUC policies. Counsels members of management on a broad range of routine employee relations matters, including but not limited to, policy interpretation and application, performance concerns, progressive discipline, conflict resolution, leave cases, and investigations. Primary Functions: Serves as the initial contact and liaison for intake and assessment of employee complaints; Handles routine human resource inquiries related to policies, including providing guidance on HR policy interpretation and application; refers complex matters to appropriate Employee Experience and/or management staff; Conducts initial interviews and gathers information for employee relations matters such as work complaints, harassment allegations, or other concerns; escalates to appropriate team members when additional investigation is required; Assists and participates in counseling or termination meetings with employees and managers; Assists with collecting information and data to assess cost and policy implications of negotiations and disputes. This may include management proposals, pay scales and wages, benefits, working conditions, and other mitigating circumstances; Drafts, edits and tracks warnings, coaching and other report documentation for leadership as needed; Drafts investigation and case related documentation for HR leadership review and approval and ensures they are recorded upon finalization; Utilizes case management, HRIS and other HR systems to record employee relations matters such as investigations, warnings, performance improvement plans, coaching etc; Pulls reports and performs analytics as necessary on types/trends of discipline, terminations and other related data; Conducts surveys, interviews, and other research related to human resource policies, total rewards and other employee relations matters influencing engagement; collects information and reports results to the Human Resources leadership; Manages the purchase and updates of mandatory labor posters at all OUC locations to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations; Remains current on laws and regulations related to EEO, affirmative action, ADA, FMLA, reasonable accommodations and broad human resources topics from a federal, state, and local level; Supports the preparation of plans, documents, and reports including but not limited to affirmative action plans, organizational charts, and employee policies; Conducts employee exit interviews; creates and maintains reports and conducts analysis to identify issues that may have affected employee performance and success; Collaborates with employee engagement team to gather data to identify patterns, trends and themes related to employee engagement and retention concerns; Partners with payroll, HRIS and other related teams to complete unemployment requests and tracks the associated reporting; Owns the update and maintenance of the repository for policies; collaborates with team to provide recommendations on policy changes; Perform other duties as assigned. Technical Requirements: Working knowledge of all, but not limited to the following: Federal, State, and local employment, labor, compensation and benefits laws; Workplace investigations; Employee relations procedures and processes; Data metrics and reporting; HR policies and policy interpretation; Mediation and conflict resolution; Software Applications (HRIS, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Case Management, Performance Management, Applicant Tracking and Report Line); Familiarity with all, but not limited to the following: Related industry, organizational, and departmental policies, practices, and procedures; legal guidelines, ordinances, and laws; Ability to: Communicate clearly, concisely, and efficiently in verbal and written communications with employees at all levels of the organization; Exercise judgment and discretion in the development, implementation, and maintenance of HR programs; Identify areas of improvement and make recommendations; Exhibit strong analytical skills; Work in a team-oriented environment and provide support to the department through a strong work ethic, a sense of commitment, and a strong desire to succeed; Make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, and compute rates, ratios, and percentages; Use Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and standard office equipment (telephone, computer, copier, etc.). Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field of study from an accredited college or university; Minimum of three (3) years of professional level experience in human resources with an emphasis on administering employee relations programs (required) to include: Counseling employees and managers on human resources issues, conducting routine workplace investigations, and conflict resolution; Experience evaluating and making recommendations for routine employee relations cases in compliance with workplace policies and local, state, and federal employment laws; Metrics tracking and reporting; Valid Driver’s License (required); SHRM or HRCI Certified Professional (SPHR/PHR or SHRM‑CP/SHRM‑SCP), Certificate in Employee Relations Law Seminar, or similar HR certification, (preferred). Working Conditions: This job is absent of disagreeable working conditions. This job is performed in an office work environment. Must be able to travel to all OUC locations at any time for investigations, trainings, meetings, etc. Physical Requirements: This job includes very frequent speaking/ hearing, writing/ typing, and detailed inspection. This job requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, and bending. There may be occasional climbing, kneeling, reaching over head, and lifting up to twenty (20) lbs. Also, this job includes very frequent driving of a company vehicle. OUC–The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations. EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled #J-18808-Ljbffr En Español: OUC - The Reliable One, actualmente está buscando un especialista en relaciones con los empleados para unirse a la división de Experiencia de Empleados. En OUC, no sólo trabajamos estamos construyendo un futuro brillante de innovación y transformación para las generaciones futuras. Buscamos un profesional de recursos humanos proactivo, resiliente y orientado a las relaciones para apoyar un entorno de trabajo positivo, conforme y productivo. En este papel práctico, ayudará con la toma de conciencia de los empleadas, realizará la búsqueda de hechos iniciales para ER de rutina, guiará a los gerentes en casos de interpretación de políticas, apoyo y procesos disciplinarios, y ayudará a garantizar una aplicación coherente y justa de políticas en toda la organización. Colaborará estrechamente con el liderazgo de recursos humanos, socios comerciales y empleados mientras contribuye a la documentación de casos, desarrollo de SOP, tareas de cumplimiento y informes de datos que ayudan a identificar tendencias y oportunidades de mejora. La misión de OUC es proporcionar un valor excepcional a nuestros clientes y a la comunidad mediante la prestación de servicios y soluciones sostenibles y confiables. Por qué te encantará trabajar aquí: Sea parte de un equipo impulsado por la misión que valora el pensamiento de las personas. Obtenga impacto inmediato a través de la ombra y los proyectos estratégicos. Disfrute de un entorno colaborativo y de apoyo donde su experiencia es importante. Oportunidades de aprendizaje, crecimiento y desarrollo en una organización dinámica. Lo que usted hará: Servir como primer punto de contacto para las quejas y conocimientos de los empleados. Proporcione asesoramiento empático e imparcial a los administradores de HR y las políticas de gestión de la conducta de los recursos humanos. Nuestro paquete de recompensas totales incluye citar algunos: compensación competitiva Beneficios médicos, dentales y de visión de bajo costo y primas de seguro de vida pagadas sin período de prueba. El programa de jubilación híbrida de la OUC incluye una cuenta de saldo de efectivo totalmente financiada, contribución definida con el empleador que coincide con una cuenta del reembolso de salud. vacaciones pagadas generosas, vacaciones y tiempo de enfermedad. licencia parental pagada. Programa de asistencia educativa, que incluye el pago de las matrículas, membresías pagadas en asociaciones profesionales, conferencias y oportunidades de capacitación pagadas. Incentivos de bienestar y gratuitos para todas las instalaciones de aptitud OUC en el lugar. Acceso a áreas recreativas orientadas a la familia. Conferencias de formación pagadas y oportunidades. Aparcamiento en el centro de la ciudad. Horario de trabajo gratuito. Rango salarial: $66,248,485,000 800. El Especialista en Relaciones con Empleados trabaja estrechamente con socios comerciales, gerencia, liderazgo y empleados para crear un entorno de trabajo positivo que apoye los objetivos y objetivos de la organización, manteniéndose en pleno cumplimiento con todas las leyes federales, estatales y locales y las políticas de OUC. Asesora a los miembros de la administración sobre una amplia gama de asuntos rutinarios de relaciones con los empleados, incluida, entre otras cosas, la interpretación y aplicación de políticas, las preocupaciones de rendimiento, la disciplina progresiva, la resolución de conflictos, los casos de licencia y las investigaciones. Funciones primarias: sirve como contacto inicial y enlace para la recepción y evaluación de las quejas de los trabajadores; maneja consultas rutinarias de recursos humanos relacionadas con las políticas, incluyendo la prestación de orientación sobre la interpretación de las políticas y la aplicación de RR; remite asuntos complejos a la experiencia y/o gestión de empleados apropiados; lleva a cabo entrevistas iniciales y recopila información para asuntos relacionados con las relaciones con empleados tales como quejas, problemas de acoso, asesores de equipo o otras cuestiones de asesoramiento; intensifica la investigación y la evaluación de los costos y las implicaciones adicionales de las negociaciones y la información con los administradores de personal; y cuando se requiere la participación en las discusiones y las conversaciones con los funcionarios; y evalúa con los consejeros; y las consecuencias de las discusión y las cuestiones relativas a las políticas; Esto puede incluir propuestas de gestión, escalas salariales y salarios, beneficios, condiciones de trabajo y otras circunstancias mitigantes; extrae informes y realiza análisis según sea necesario sobre tipos / tendencias de disciplina, terminaciones y otros datos relacionados; lleva a cabo encuestas, entrevistas y otras investigaciones relacionadas con políticas humanas, recompensas totales y otras cuestiones relacionadas con el compromiso de los empleados y se asegura de que se registran al finalizar; utiliza la gestión de casos, HRIS y otros sistemas de recursos humanos para registrar asuntos de relaciones de empleados tales como investigaciones, advertencias, planes de mejora del rendimiento, entrenamiento, etc.; extrae reportes y realiza analíticas conforme a las necesidades sobre tipos/tendencias de disciplinas, terminación de carrera y otros dados relacionados; realiza estudios, entrevuelos y otra investigación relacionada con políticas de trabajo, reclamos totales de remuneración y otros asuntos relacionados con la participación de los trabajadores; recopila información y recolecta informes a la dirección de los conflictos de los recursos humanos; gestiona las pólizas de empleo y los informes laborales obligatorios de los equipos de Recursos Humanos, así como los informes de mantenimiento de los resultados de las relaciones labores y de trabajo; aplicaciones de las políticas federales, pero no las políticas de gestión de los programas de trabajo e implementación de los Estados miembros; requiere una amplia aplicación de las normas y de los requisitos de trabajo de la ley, pero también las normas estatales y las normas locales; los planes de trabajo (como las normas federales; las normas, las normas de funcionamiento y de seguridad de los sistemas administrativos y las relaciones de trabajo) y los sistemas de gestión del personal; los informes; los programas; los procedimientos de gestión y las políticas y las acciones y las aplicaciones; las políticas, incluidas en relación con las disposiciones legales; y los programas, y las prácticas y las medidas de trabajo.