The Employee Relations (ER) and Labor Relations (LR) Associate plays a crucial role in supporting the ER/LR functions within the organization. This position is responsible for handling employee concerns, disputes, and grievances, ensuring compliance with labor laws and the collective bargaining agreement, and fostering a positive work environment.
Location: Hybrid (see below), downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Job Responsibilities:
Participate in labor contract negotiations and grievances processes
Assist in developing and conducting ER/LR training programs for managers and employees
Maintain accurate records of ER/LR activities and documentation, including ensuring appropriate documents are available on Union informational SharePoint site
Prepare monthly, quarterly, yearly, and ad hoc reports and presentations for senior management and union leadership on ER/LR initiatives, hiring actions, issues, and trends
Assist in the development and implementation of ER/LR policies and procedures
Manage the internal bid process through the posting of Union bids, processing bid lists, monitoring outstanding bids, etc. Manage bumping procedure when necessary.
Participate in the Company's preemployment EEI testing and other standardized testing processes, as necessary in partnership with Manager, Talent Acquisition (TA)
Assist with the adverse action process, in partnership with TA, ER/LR, and Legal
Monitor Personnel Status Change box and approve Union hiring actions
Track and maintain data for Union employees, including service anniversary progressions, probationary evaluation forms, retention agreements, skill progressions, and seniority list
Partner with Talent Acquisition to track union hires and maintain tracking list in conjunction with probationary evaluation forms
Manage the Company's union-focused programs, such as Boot and Fire Resistant Clothing programs, end-to-end
Manage Random Drug Testing program
Participate in investigations into employee complaints and issues, and provide recommendations for resolution, in partnership with Corporate Compliance and Human Resources Business Partners (HRBPs)
Serve as a point of contact for employees regarding workplace concerns and grievances
Respond to requests for information and assist with arbitrations/investigations
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations
Support management in handling disciplinary actions
Facilitate effective communication between employees and management as appropriate
Monitor HR email box on a rotating basis, responding to employee inquiries as appropriate
Education/Experience
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Employee or Labor Relations, or related field required
One (1+) or more years of experience in Employee Relations and/or Labor Relations preferred; experience working in a bargaining unit environment preferred
Valid driver's license required
Master's degree in Human Resources or related field preferred
Relevant certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, etc. preferred
Skills and Abilities Utilized in this Role Include:
Strong understanding of labor laws and regulations
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, PowerBI)
Why you'll love working here: We live by our values!
We are safe above all else. We must keep ourselves, each other, our customers and communities safe
We are guided by our commitment to integrity and never compromising on ethics
We are dependable, collaborative and steady; we are a trusted partner to all
We believe in equity and equal access to work, resources and opportunities are critical elements of a clean energy future for all
We are ingrained in our community; we work where we live and are committed to serving our vibrant, diverse communities.
Scope:
Responsibilities are generally tactical and basic in nature, however work may vary in type and complexity, requiring the incumbent to be flexible to adjust to the given situation. Primary focus is on daily deliverables and outputs, while at the same time developing a knowledge of the broader context in which the work is being performed.
Decision Impact:
Independent discretion or decision-making capability is mostly limited. There is normally a general framework of established boundaries to help employees perform their roles and make decisions. Situations that require deviation from this general framework are typically not made alone. The employee may recommend a solution, however the recommendations are frequently presented to their manager or more senior level professionals for review and approval prior to the decision being made.
Hybrid Work:
Position follows our hybrid work model, with a minimum of two days working in the office and the remaining day working remotely. Reporting location and frequency may be subject to change based on job role and department needs.
Storm Roles:
All Non-Union Employees will serve in storm roles as appropriate to their role and skillset. Please be sure to discuss storm roles with the hiring manager for this position, as duties can vary across the Company. Examples of storm roles could include but aren't limited to duties such as: working with operations for service center support or with the communications, customer service, or government affairs teams to respond to public and customer requests for information, etc.
Data Governance:
Utilize data to make business decisions as appropriate for the position, support data stewardship activities and partner with IT on underlying data needs.
Disclaimer:
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.