Employee Relations Manager

At Equity Residential, we're dedicated to creating thriving communities, and we invite you to be part of our team. Embracing values like Diversity, Sustainability, and Total Wellbeing, we foster a workplace culture of authenticity and collaboration.

How We Deliver a Winning Performance:

• Question Authority
• Walk the Talk
• Share Knowledge
• Listen, not just Hear
• See the Glass Half Full
• Take Educated Risks
• Enjoy the Ride
• Share the Spotlight
• Do the Right Thing
• Test Your Limits

We Care About Your Total Wellbeing:

• Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision care
• Social Wellbeing: 9 paid holidays, annual vacation time, paid sick leave, new parent benefits
• Financial Wellbeing: 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Rent Discounts, Competitive Compensation
• Community Wellbeing: Paid Community Service Hours
• Career Wellbeing: Leadership Development
• Learn more about our Total Wellbeing program here.

What You’ll Be Doing:

The Employee Relations (ER) Manager centralizes Equity Residential's approach to ER, ensuring consistency and rigor in managing workplace issues. This role leads complex investigations into misconduct and policy violations, manages case data, and provides technical guidance on investigation procedures and policy governance. The ER Manager partners with HR Business Partners to implement proactive interventions aimed at mitigating and preventing workplace issues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Employee Relations Case Management & Investigations

● Serves as the primary point of contact for employee relations issues and manages the case life cycle from intake to resolution.

● Conducts impartial, thorough, and timely investigations into complaints (e.g., harassment, discrimination, misconduct, policy violations), maintaining accurate and confidential documentation and partners with Legal on high-risk or escalated matters.

● Maintains investigation standards, tools, and templates for rigor and consistency.

● Coaches and advises managers on performance documentation, accountability, difficult conversations, and recommendations for corrective actions or termination.

● Ensures a consistent and proactively communicated employee experience throughout the investigation process.

People Insights & Trend Analysis

● Leverages employee relations data and analytics to identify trends and emerging risks, reporting findings and recommendations to HR leadership and providing insights to HR Business Partners for proactive intervention, workforce planning, and manager development.

● Ensures consistent and thorough tracking and documentation of all employee relations issues in the case management database.

● Provides an ER perspective during organizational changes and transitions.

Compliance and Risk Mitigation

● Serves as a key advisor to HR leadership on employee relations matters, organizational dynamics, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation; this includes advising leaders on complex scenarios like policy/misconduct violations and owning the maintenance and modernization of ER-related policies and investigation standards.

● Stays informed about industry trends, emerging threats, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding employee issues and investigative best practices to inform and adapt ER strategies.

● Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations, including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements, and oversees the interactive process related to ADA and other reasonable accommodation obligations.

The Company may revise this job description from time to time as business needs require. It is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all the functions of the job, nor limit the Company’s right to assign other functions to an employee in this position. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

● Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.

● Paralegal certificate or equivalent paralegal experience strongly preferred.

● 7-10 years of progressive HR experience, specifically including employee relations and investigations.

● Strong working knowledge of employment laws (federal, state, local).

● Exceptional documentation and rigorous fact-finding skills.

● Strong interpersonal, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.

● Ability to synthesize complex data and identify trends for proactive intervention.

● HR certification (PHR, SPHR) preferred.

Machines, Tools and Equipment, Software: Computer w/Internet and email capabilities, telephone, photocopier. Google Suite, Oracle Fusion and ER case management software.