URBN Employee Relations Specialist

URBN is searching for an Employee Relations Specialist who will act as a first-line resource and support to employees and managers regarding HR questions and concerns. This position is responsible for intake of employee concerns and escalation of issues to the appropriate Employee Relations team member. The Employee Relations Specialist is also integral in responding to common HR policy questions and reporting on HR metrics.

Role Responsibilities

• Monitor and organize HR email inbox; triage HR questions and distribute to appropriate HR team member.
• Respond to employees with workplace questions and concerns, ensure awareness of URBN policies and available resources.
• Perform initial intake of employee-reported workplace concerns; conduct interviews, gather facts/evidence, maintain detailed records of interview notes.
• Partner with Employee Relations Manager to ensure their awareness of current issues, provide preview of findings and recommendations.
• Escalate reports of harassment and discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and other violations of company policy to Employee Relations Manager for investigation.
• Support Employee Relations Managers and Director, HR Business Partner Services with overflow of low-complexity employee relations issues, such as excessive tardiness and absenteeism, and provide guidance to managers on company policy, best practices, and any recommendations for next steps, including corrective action.
• Follow up regularly with managers to ensure HR recommendations have been actioned (e.g., delivery of a performance improvement plan or corrective action).
• Own all employee facing communication and HR actions for store/location closings, including coordination of severance and retention bonuses.
• Maintain and update HR team reporting, such as monthly HR statistics and survey key term reports.
• Assist with special projects, as needed.
• Stay current with employment law and related issues.

Role Qualifications

• Some prior experience in handling sensitive and nuanced employee relations issues
• Knowledge of multi-state and federal employment law and regulations
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of collaborating with leaders, peers, cross-functional partners
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong emotional intelligence, and ability to build trust, rapport, and influence with leaders, and employees at all levels of the company.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to prioritize daily tasks independently.
• Demonstrated experience in fostering diversity and inclusion within the workplace, with a track record of supporting inclusive HR practices.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills especially in complex, sensitive, and nuanced situations
• Self-starter, autonomous and ability to own work processes from start to finish
• Models behaviors that align with URBN’s values:
• Unite in communicating and collaborating with integrity
• Respect our planet, our world, and each other
• Build lifestyle brands through creative entrepreneurship
• Nurture meaningful connections with customers and employees.

The Perks

URBN offers comprehensive Perks & Benefits to employees. Availability and eligibility to specific benefits may be subject to your location and employment status. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, PTO, generous employee discounts, retirement savings and much more! For additional information visit www.urbn.com/work-with-us/benefits

EEO Statement

URBN celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We believe strongly in fostering a safe, fair and respectful work environment. To ensure compliance with our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, we offer anti-harassment training to managers and employees.