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Human resources business partner vs employee relations manager

The differences between human resources business partners and employee relations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a human resources business partner and an employee relations manager. Additionally, a human resources business partner has an average salary of $86,363, which is higher than the $81,465 average annual salary of an employee relations manager.

The top three skills for a human resources business partner include employee engagement, HRBP and succession planning. The most important skills for an employee relations manager are performance management, management system, and conflict resolution.

Human resources business partner vs employee relations manager overview

Human Resources Business PartnerEmployee Relations Manager
Yearly salary$86,363$81,465
Hourly rate$41.52$39.17
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs103,52041,544
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does a human resources business partner do?

Human resource (HR) business partners' primary job is to ensure that business objectives are aligned with the management and employees within an organization. They typically focus more on developing HR strategy than implementing the company policies. They often work with individual business units, and their work is related to the company's current and future success. HR business partners are also responsible for providing performance management guidance, developing contract terms for new employees, transfers, and promotions, and providing advice on business units.

What does an employee relations manager do?

An employee relations manager's responsibilities revolve around maintaining a strong professional relationship between employees and a company's management. They are also in charge of resolving conflicts and issues within the workplace, providing technical support on all employee programs, developing orientation and workshop activities among trainees and new members of the workforce, and addressing their concerns promptly and professionally. Furthermore, there are instances when an employee relations manager must conduct investigations, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Human resources business partner vs employee relations manager salary

Human resources business partners and employee relations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Human Resources Business PartnerEmployee Relations Manager
Average salary$86,363$81,465
Salary rangeBetween $62,000 And $119,000Between $59,000 And $112,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyRopes & GrayMeta
Best paying industryFinanceRetail

Differences between human resources business partner and employee relations manager education

There are a few differences between a human resources business partner and an employee relations manager in terms of educational background:

Human Resources Business PartnerEmployee Relations Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Human resources business partner vs employee relations manager demographics

Here are the differences between human resources business partners' and employee relations managers' demographics:

Human Resources Business PartnerEmployee Relations Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 70.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage18%18%

Differences between human resources business partner and employee relations manager duties and responsibilities

Human resources business partner example responsibilities.

  • Manage the ACA with regard to variable hour employees to avoid fines and penalties.
  • Lead effort to build safety awareness and implement plans to improve working conditions while adhering to OSHA requirements.
  • Manage and audit payroll ensuring accurate timekeeping, processing adjustments, and investigating payroll discrepancies.
  • Manage HRIS system migration to ExponentHR technology platform with full employee/manager self-service eliminating multiple homegrown systems and one service provider.
  • Report to the SVP of human resources.
  • Revamp unemployment claims process and increase HRBP completion rate and decrease dollar loss due to incomplete and fraudulent claims.
  • Show more

Employee relations manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead office through OFCCP audit and manage compliance with a conciliation agreement.
  • Manage and publish several cost-savings models for Sr. level management.
  • Provide litigation support to counsel which include representation at depositions, mediation and settlement conferences, and trial document preparation.
  • File EEO-1, ACA annually.
  • Provide oversight for all unemployment claims, successfully defending all unfound claims.
  • Serve as chief spokesperson and advisor on all labor and employee relations matters.
  • Show more

Human resources business partner vs employee relations manager skills

Common human resources business partner skills
  • Employee Engagement, 8%
  • HRBP, 6%
  • Succession Planning, 6%
  • Workforce Planning, 5%
  • Business Objectives, 4%
  • HRIS, 4%
Common employee relations manager skills
  • Performance Management, 9%
  • Management System, 7%
  • Conflict Resolution, 5%
  • Labor Relations, 5%
  • Employment Law, 5%
  • Employee Engagement, 4%

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