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Employee relations representative skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Laura McCloud Ph.D.,
J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical employee relations representative skills. We ranked the top skills for employee relations representatives based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.3% of employee relations representative resumes contained performance management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an employee relations representative needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 employee relations representative skills for your resume and career

1. Performance Management

Here's how employee relations representatives use performance management:
  • Counseled plant management through the performance management process and supported functional management with talent acquisition, promotions and Human Resources training.
  • Provided inter-divisional HR support, focusing on workforce/leadership relations, performance management, and talent development.

2. Labor Relations

Labor relations refer to the relationship between the employer and its employees. It usually deals with labor-management wherein it focuses on the collective bargaining agreement regarding work between the union of the employee in making decisions for the organization. On the other hand, findings mean the proper wages, hours of duty, working conditions, safety, and employee protection while at work, grievances, and other related concerns.

Here's how employee relations representatives use labor relations:
  • Labor relations support, with contract interpretation for management and employees identified under collective bargaining agreements.
  • Created databases to identify trends directed at mitigating risk and improving management-employee-labor relationships.

3. Human Resources Policies

Here's how employee relations representatives use human resources policies:
  • Administered human resources policies and procedures that pertained to employee relations, both hourly and salaried positions.
  • Provide advice and counsel to 1640+ management and staff on human resources policies and practices.

4. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an often necessary skill in business, employed for processes such as contract negotiations, legal matters, and even personal, emotional situations and conflicts. It is the ability to find and create an appropriate and peaceful solution to some sort of dilemma or argument in which two or more parties are involved. The resolution itself must benefit and satisfy all parties and this is what makes it so difficult to reach a peaceful point sometimes.

Here's how employee relations representatives use conflict resolution:
  • Developed solutions by collecting and analyzing information and recommend a course of action as it related to conflict resolution.
  • Contributed to positive employee relations climate through effective conflict resolution and consistent policy administration.

5. Employment Law

Employment law іѕ the соllесtіоn of laws аnd rules that rеgulаtе thе rеlаtіоnѕhір bеtwееn employers and еmрlоуееѕ. It gоvеrnѕ whаt еmрlоуеrѕ саn еxресt from еmрlоуееѕ, whаt еmрlоуеrѕ саn ask of еmрlоуееѕ, and employees' rights аt wоrk. Employment law covers a wіdе range оf issues, frоm реnѕіоnѕ аnd retirement рlаnѕ to occupational safety аnd tо discrimination in thе workplace.

Here's how employee relations representatives use employment law:
  • Provided advisement regarding employment law and assisted in mediation between parties engaged in a complaint process.
  • Revised existing California-based policies and procedures for the new company ensuring compliance with local as well as federal employment law.

6. HRIS

Here's how employee relations representatives use hris:
  • Conducted disciplinary action and termination investigations and tracked information regarding investigations via HRIS system.
  • Participated in the selection and implementation process for the HRIS system and maintained applicant data entry for HRIS/Lawson application tracking system.

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7. Disciplinary Actions

Disciplinary actions refer to a corrective measure taken against an employee for unsatisfactory behavior. Many work environments have a tiered system for disciplinary action, where the first warning is verbal and the second is written. Disciplinary action may be given after a weak performance review, a violation of company rules and policies, or a poor customer review.

Here's how employee relations representatives use disciplinary actions:
  • Advised senior-level management on labor contracts and personnel policies; investigated misconduct; prepared disciplinary actions; and wrote grievance responses.
  • Reduced time supervisors needed to properly discipline and document disciplinary actions by developing a supervisor training programs.

8. Exit Interviews

Exit interviews are meetings conducted by management representatives with employees who are separating from the company. These interviews act as a measurement scale to assess the individual's overall experience with the organization. Having a standardized procedure of exit interviews helps the company to manage risks effectively. It can increase employee retention, engagement and helps to decide what decisions are fruitful and what aren't inside the organization.

Here's how employee relations representatives use exit interviews:
  • Conduct exit interviews and provide management decision tools and interpretation relevant to associate information: high-turnover, headcount, staffing status.
  • Conducted exit interviews and ensured proper employee exit procedures including final check including severance calculations.

9. FMLA

Here's how employee relations representatives use fmla:
  • Provided consultative support to managers on human resource issues including terminations, FMLA, ADA, and EEO policies.
  • Acted as liaison on behalf of management and employees regarding FMLA issues and prepare responses for qualifying events.

10. Federal Laws

The laws formed and upheld by the federal administrating body of a country are known as federal laws. A federal administrating body or government is formed by a political party after being elected by the general public.

Here's how employee relations representatives use federal laws:
  • Counseled management on the interpretation and application of policies and state/federal laws on employment.
  • Assist in performing internal audits of information to ensure compliance with State and Federal laws and company policies.

11. EEO-1

Here's how employee relations representatives use eeo-1:
  • Defined and prepared all regulatory reporting, such as EEO-1, EO Survey, Vets-100 and VETS-100A.
  • Initiated company compliance in EEO-1 Reporting eliminating potential fines for non-compliance.

12. FLSA

Here's how employee relations representatives use flsa:
  • Managed compliance review of FLSA classification and analyzed headcount and turnover reports and provided recommendations to management regarding appropriate headcount actions.
  • Performed FLSA audit for new classifications, recommended adjustments to bring classifications into compliance and communicated changes to affected employees.

13. Payroll Issues

Here's how employee relations representatives use payroll issues:
  • Mediate payroll issues with employees and Volt's regional payroll hub.
  • Organized and implemented all payroll issues, including special awards.

14. Performance Issues

The failure to meet the basic requirements of a job is called a performance issue. These issues are measured based on policies company culture and job objectives. Performance issues can broadly fall into either one or more categories quantity of work, quality of work, inappropriate behavior, and resistance to change.

Here's how employee relations representatives use performance issues:
  • Facilitated, managed and administered employee disciplinary action guidelines regarding attendance and performance issues.
  • Devised/initiated strategies to correct performance issues.

15. Workers Compensation

Here's how employee relations representatives use workers compensation:
  • Handled unemployment, workers compensation, family medical leave, public liability and equal employment opportunity.
  • Managed workers compensation postings and ensured proper timely reporting occurred.
top-skills

What skills help Employee Relations Representatives find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on employee relations representative resumes?

Laura McCloud Ph.D.Laura McCloud Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Sociology, Pacific Lutheran University

I think the pandemic will prioritize people's ability to work independently and to collaborate virtually. I don't fully believe we'll see the end of offices that some people are speculating, but we will see an increase in virtual work for many professions. Students who can communicate effectively in-person and online will be at an advantage when trying to get a job. I think experience with collaborative software will also benefit them. While they are missing out on some of the advantages of face-to-face learning, online learning gives students many opportunities for building digital communication skills.

What soft skills should all employee relations representatives possess?

J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management & Human Resources, Saint Leo University

FYI, soft skills are a lot more difficult to train than hard skills. This is part of the reason that there is so much demand for soft skills - for the most part, they need to be innate to the candidate.
Here again, communication comes up - and here, it is important to recognize that communication is much more than just telling people. A good communicator is a great listener. He knows when to speak his mind and when to wait and see what happens. She knows how to collaborate effectively with people and how to take action when needed.

What employee relations representative skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ryan CeresolaRyan Ceresola LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Hartwick College

I always recommend to my students year-long service opportunities, especially because I have so many students interested in working in the criminal justice system, social services, or human resources. I am most familiar with the AmeriCorps program, having served two years thereafter my undergraduate education, but others include Peace Corps, Teach for America, and certain religiously affiliated service projects. These low-pay, high-reward opportunities are great ways to learn about our society's needs and to find out more about yourself and what you are particularly passionate about. They also serve as in-roads for many interested candidates to continue work for their particular organization after the year of service.

What technical skills for an employee relations representative stand out to employers?

Adam Smith Ph.D.Adam Smith Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Bicentennial Professor, Associate Professor of Management, Enactus Sam Walton Fellow, Indiana University Kokomo

That varies by industry, employer, level, and position. Also, it depends on their approach to hiring and training. It is important that students research employers and industries that interest them. But overall, it may be skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and collaboration that remain vital. Going forward, effective communication, tech savviness, a positive view of change (as opportunity), and an openness to continuous learning may set people apart in organizations.

What hard/technical skills are most important for employee relations representatives?

Dan Wiljanen Ph.D.

Affiliate of Practice Professor, SHRM Student Chapter Adviser, Grand Valley State University

Knowledge of the HR Discipline
-Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
-Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
-Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, government regulations, and executive orders.
-Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for training design, implementation, and evaluation.
Technology Skills
-Enterprise resource planning ERP software
-Human resources software - Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
-Office suite software
-Project management software
-Web page creation and editing software
-Word processing software

List of employee relations representative skills to add to your resume

Employee relations representative skills

The most important skills for an employee relations representative resume and required skills for an employee relations representative to have include:

  • Performance Management
  • Labor Relations
  • Human Resources Policies
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Employment Law
  • HRIS
  • Disciplinary Actions
  • Exit Interviews
  • FMLA
  • Federal Laws
  • EEO-1
  • FLSA
  • Payroll Issues
  • Performance Issues
  • Workers Compensation
  • Applicant Tracking Systems
  • Unemployment Claims
  • DOL
  • Safety Training
  • Collective Bargaining
  • Arbitration
  • Policy Interpretation
  • Leave Management
  • Training Programs
  • Progressive Discipline
  • Sexual Harassment
  • State Laws
  • PeopleSoft
  • Background Checks
  • Open Enrollment
  • Contract Interpretation
  • Labor Law
  • Hr Liaison
  • Industrial Relations
  • Performance Reviews
  • Performance Evaluations
  • Personnel Issues
  • Reference Checks
  • Performance Improvement
  • Benefits Administration
  • Internal Investigations
  • I-9
  • Termination Process
  • AAP
  • Legal Compliance
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Hr Administration
  • Personnel Policies
  • PowerPoint

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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