Employee Relations Consultant
United States - RemoteCompetitiveHybridFull time0 applicants
About this role
Consultant, ER - HE07AE
Sr. Consultant, ER - HE07BE
We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the
future.
The Employee Relations Consultant operates as a
trusted advisor, risk informed consultant, and judgment-based decision partner
to leaders and employees. This role has evolved beyond transactional ER support to focus on
independent decision making, leader enablement, and proactive risk mitigation
in a complex and often ambiguous environment.
They are expected to manage sensitive ER matters end-to-end, exercise sound judgment when policy or process is not definitive, and influence high quality outcomes aligned to company values, employee trust, and business priorities.
Responsibilities
- Strategic ER Consultation & Leader Enablement
- Provide independent consultation and coaching to leaders and employees across performance, conduct, accommodations, leave, workplace conflict, investigations, and employment actions
- Partner with leaders to navigate
- ambiguous situations
- where there is no clear “right answer
- Build and present recommendations that balance fairness, risk, precedent, and employee experience
- Influence defensible, values aligned decisions without relying solely on policy or escalation
- Demonstrates a transformation‑oriented mindset by continuously evaluating ER work, processes, and customer needs through a customer‑first, enterprise lens; intentionally prioritizing automation, technology, AI enablement, and leader/employee education as the primary means of meeting demand.
- ER Case Management & Investigations
- Independently manage complex and sensitive ER cases from intake through resolution
- Conduct or support investigations using consistent, equitable, and precedent-based practices
- Maintain accurate, timely, and well-reasoned documentation that clearly articulates judgment and rationale
- Partner closely with internal stakeholders to drive aligned outcomes
- Operating in the Grey
- Make informed decisions
- without all the information
- , clearly articulating knowns, unknowns, and assumptions
- Distinguish when to pause, proceed, or escalate—and explain why
- Help leaders move forward responsibly under uncertainty rather than defaulting to inaction
- Data Informed Risk Assessment
- Use ER data, case trends, and context to inform recommendations and decision making
- Identify emerging patterns or repeat drivers that may indicate broader risk
- Partner with leadership to surface insights and inform proactive interventions
- Digital & AI Fluency
- Leverage systems, digital workflows, and AI enabled tools responsibly to support documentation, analysis, and consultation
- Maintain high standards of confidentiality, ethical use, and data integrity
- Adapt quickly as tools and processes evolve
- Collaboration, Inclusion & Professional Presence
- Build trust-based relationships with leaders, employees, and HR partners
- Demonstrate empathy, emotional intelligence, and cultural competence in sensitive situations
- Maintain steady, professional presence in high pressure or emotionally charged conversations
- Promote fairness, psychological safety, and consistency in all ER work
Requirements
- 3+ years of HR experience within an Employee Relations function of a complex organization (Required)
- Demonstrated experience managing ER cases that require judgment, discretion, and influence
- Skills & Competencies
- Independent judgment and comfort operating in ambiguity
- Strong consulting and coaching skills; ability to influence without authority
- Ability to balance competing risks (legal, cultural, reputational, equity)
- Effective written and verbal communication, including documentation of rationale and decision making
- Data literacy and ability to extract insights from trends
- Strong integrity, professionalism, and discretion
- Preferred / Emerging Skills
- Experience using ER or risk platforms (e.g., Workday, Archer) and analytics tools
- Familiarity with AI enabled tools and digital case management
- Prior experience supporting leaders through change, time pressure, or uncertainty
- What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Leaders trust your judgment and seek your input early
- You move work forward even when certainty is not available
- Your recommendations are clear, defensible, and aligned to values
- Issues are resolved thoughtfully, and repeated risks are reduced
- You are seen as a calm, credible presence in complex situations
- The ER Consultant does not wait for perfect information—they use judgment to guide leaders through complexity with confidence and care.
- This role can have a Hybrid or Remote work arrangement. Candidates who live near one of our office locations will have the expectation of working in an office 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday). Candidates who do not live near an office will have a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of coming into an office only as business needs arise.
About Hartford Financial
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