Employee Relations Manager (Various locations)

The Employee Relations (ER) Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of employee relations within the organisation, ensuring compliance with South African labour legislation, fostering a positive workplace culture, and supporting effective communication between employees, managers, and leadership. The role involves policy development, dispute resolution, performance management support, and advising management on best practice employee relations strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Develop, review, and implement ER policies and procedures aligned with company objectives and South African labour law (LRA, BCEA, EEA, OHSA).

• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, including union agreements and bargaining council conditions.

• Act as the primary contact for all labour relations matters, including CCMA cases, disciplinary hearings, grievances, and workplace investigations.

• Represent the company at external forums such as the CCMA and Bargaining Councils.

Disciplinary & Grievance Management

• Provide guidance to managers on disciplinary procedures, poor performance management, incapacity processes, and grievance handling.

• Oversee the drafting of charges, notices, and chairing of hearings when required.

• Ensure consistent application of discipline and fair labour practices across the organisation.

Union & Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain effective working relationships with shop stewards, union representatives, and employee committees.

• Participate in collective bargaining processes and negotiations where relevant.

• Advise leadership on industrial action risks and assist with contingency planning.

Workplace Culture & Engagement

• Support initiatives to strengthen employee engagement, trust, and communication between staff and management.

• Monitor workplace climate through surveys, focus groups, and exit interviews, and make recommendations for improvement.

• Contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Training & Development

• Provide training to managers and supervisors on employee relations, labour law compliance, and conflict resolution.

• Build ER capability within the HR team and across business units.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare regular reports on employee relations trends, disputes, turnover, absenteeism, and disciplinary cases.

• Identify risk areas and recommend proactive strategies to reduce disputes and foster stability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Labour Relations, or related field (Postgraduate qualification advantageous).

• Minimum 68 years experience in HR/ER roles, with at least 3 years in a management or senior ER position.

• In-depth knowledge of South African labour legislation (LRA, BCEA, EEA, OHSA, Skills Development Act).

• Proven track record in handling CCMA cases and union engagements.

• Experience in a medium to large company environment, ideally with unionised workforce exposure.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of labour law and dispute resolution practices.

• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across all levels.

• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and resilience under pressure.

• Analytical and problem-solving ability.

• Ability to balance business needs with fair employee practices.