Er Support Advisor (Part Time)

ER Support Advisor (part time)
Based; Swindon Support Centre
Salary; competitive
The Role
WHSmith is in a real period of transformation and at the heart of our growth plans is our people, so we are growing our People Relations Team, it’s fast, fun, people and customer focused. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.
We have an exciting opportunity based in our Swindon office to support our Employee Relations Partnering team on a part time basis (up to 3.5 days per week).
You will support the team to provide best in class advice, highly personalised through multiple channels, connecting with the wider people team and colleagues, you will form part of a team that supports High Street, Post Office, Travel and Online services.
You will be a strong communicator, ensuring that policy and processes are understood, co-ordinating colleagues and managers through the processes.
As an important member of the Employee Relations team, you will ideally have previous experience within a similar role, be a confident communicator and have a 'can do’ attitude. This is a fast-paced role, with the opportunity to deal with high volume queries, ranging from supporting welfare, advising on policy, working in partnership with the Employee Relations teams and working as part of a team to achieve a positive outcome for all involved.
What you will be doing
• Advising on all long-term sickness absence cases, with the ability to manage each case independently, through to completion
• Support our Right to Work team in gaining the correct immigration documentation, through to completion, including up to dismissal stage, if required
• Advising on non-complex cases with the ability to manage each case independently.
• Keeping fully up to date with all employment legislation, in particular, legislation relating to long-term sickness absence and immigration
• Provide ER support and related initiatives, training and coaching
• Shape the long-term sickness absence and immigration policies
• Provide the wider business with regular updates on long-term sickness absence cases and data.
• Developing and sustaining good business relationships to promote good employee relations across the wider business
• Become a trusted member of the Employee Relations Team
Who we are looking for
• Experience in providing guidance, expert knowledge within a complex business operating model
• Experience in managing ER long-term sickness absence cases and providing the necessary advice
• Ability to contribute and drive continuous improvement throughout ER practice and policy
• Strong up to date working knowledge of employment law and experience in contributing to the research and development of employment policies, procedures and practices
• Excellent knowledge of ER procedures and processes
• Experience of working on own initiative within a demanding environment with the highest professional standards
• Excellent judgement with a logical, meticulous and pragmatic approach to decision-making
• Highly adaptable with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to gain others’ confidence quickly.
• Ability to gain commitment, drive things forward, be highly organised and ensure that deadlines are met.
• Involvement in or delivery of training
• Be proficient using excel spreadsheets and providing KPI data
How we reward our teams
• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family friendly leave
• Company pension scheme
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and Personal Performance
• Competitive salary
• Staff discount card for stores and online
About us
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
WHSmith have occupied our place as the Hub of the High Street and in our customers’ hearts since 1792. Across our diverse estate of c.525 stores on UK high streets, with our wide-ranging store sizes and formats, we sell a large range of products including stationery, greeting cards, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, books and drinks. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture.
WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.