Gusto is seeking a dynamic and experienced HR professional to take on a unique and critical role within our organization. As an Employee Relations Partner, you will be the primary advisor and coach to our frontline managers and skip-levels, facilitating their growth and development while ensuring people practices are aligned with our strategic goals. We are looking for talented individuals who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, adapting their approach as needed. This role is a key driver in fostering a culture of performance enablement, inclusivity, and respect within the Gusto community; ultimately enabling Gusto to live into its promise of being the global People Platform. As the People Team continues to build and grow our shared services model, the Employee Relations Partners will be key players within the model and provide 1:1 connection between the business and People Team.

Employee Concerns & Conflict: Offer guidance in addressing employee concerns, workplace conflict resolution, and promoting a harmonious and inclusive work environment.

• Conduct thorough investigations into employee concerns, providing guidance to managers on appropriate actions.
• Collaborate with managers and appropriate stakeholders as needed, to develop disciplinary action plans and ensure proper documentation of disciplinary actions.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle disciplinary matters with sensitivity and professionalism.
• Effectively influence the Business regarding recommended actions and provide HR support and guidance to impacted parties as needed.
• Facilitate mediated conversations between employees, as appropriate to the situation.
• Identify opportunities to build skill and capability in employee relations, culture and workplace compliance issues, for leaders, managers and individual contributors.

Performance Management: Support managers in setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and addressing development needs to foster an environment of continuous improvement.

• Coach managers on appropriate performance management tools, embedding fairness and equity in the process
• Implement and oversee all performance improvement plans (including communicating Gusto’s performance management philosophy and practices to Gusties, mid-point check-ins, and final determinations)
• Proactively identify and de-escalate/mitigate matters of employment risk.
• Review all documents and evidence to support employment action with diligence and work with managers on ensuring impeccable documentation

Talent Development: Identify training and development opportunities, design learning programs in partnership with the Learning & Development team, and encourage skill enhancement among managers to enhance their leadership capabilities.

• Develop and facilitate trainings / workshops for managers on
• performance management best practices, effective feedback, and coaching techniques
• Leading within the Law training
• Identify opportunities for performance development and career growth, collaborating with Learning and Development to design relevant training programs.

Policy and Compliance: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of HR regulations and ensure managers' adherence to Gusto policies and legal requirements.

Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with managers and HR teams to ensure HR practices are in harmony with organizational objectives, adapting to ever-evolving business needs.

Data-Driven Insights: Utilize employee relations analytics and data to identify trends and propose data-based solutions that minimize reactive work.

Other project / work as assigned

• Monitor shared services ticket queue;
• maintain and model ticket queue hygiene (closing out tickets in timely manner; empathetic but professional communications, proper and timely triaging when appropriate)
• Project work as related to team’s key initiatives

Here’s what we're looking for:

• Proven experience in HR, with a minimum of 4 years in an HR Generalist role or 2 years in an Employee Relations or HR Business Partner role, separate from any other HR-related work experience (e.g. recruiting, talent development, etc.)
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and equity.
• Exceptional knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, and industry trends.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills with the ability to inspire and guide managers effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, facilitating successful collaboration with diverse teams.
• Demonstrated analytical skills to interpret ER metrics and propose actionable insights.
• A strategic thinker capable of aligning ER initiatives with organizational goals.

Nice to have:

• Previous management experience
• Formal education or training in interpersonal communication skills such as, facilitated conversation or mediations, non-violent communication, counseling, coaching, etc.
• Experience working in a globally distributed company.
• HR certification such as PHR or SHRM

Our cash compensation amount for this role is $88,000 - $98,000 per year in Denver & most major metro locations, and $105,000 - $118,000 per year for San Francisco & New York. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.