Specialist - People Operations - Global Service Centre

Job Title: Officer - Employee Relations (Absence Management)

Job Location: [Chennai]

Department: Human Resources / Employee Relations

Reports To: Employee Relations Manager / HR Manager

Job Summary:

The Officer - Employee Relations (Absence Management) plays a key role in managing and overseeing employee absence processes, ensuring compliance with company policies, legal regulations, and best practices. This role involves administering absence-related cases, providing support to both employees and managers, and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to absence management.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Absence Management:
   • Administer and manage the company’s absence management process, including but not limited to sick leave, medical leave, and personal leave.
   • Monitor and track employee absence data to identify trends and potential issues.
   • Provide guidance and support to managers and employees regarding absence-related policies and procedures.
   • Ensure that absence management practices align with legal and regulatory requirements.
2. Employee Support:
   • Act as the main point of contact for employees regarding absence-related queries.
   • Ensure employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding absence and support them through the process.
   • Liaise with Occupational Health Services or other relevant medical professionals to assess employee health conditions and provide recommendations for accommodations or return-to-work plans.
3. Case Management:
   • Manage individual cases of long-term and short-term absence, ensuring the appropriate interventions and support are provided.
   • Work closely with the Employee Relations team and other departments to ensure case resolution and employee well-being.
   • Maintain accurate and confidential records of absence cases, including return-to-work interviews, medical certifications, and correspondence.
4. Compliance and Reporting:
   • Monitor compliance with the organization’s absence management policies and legal requirements, including statutory leave entitlements.
   • Prepare and present absence reports, trends, and analytics to HR leadership for decision-making purposes.
   • Ensure proper documentation and accurate reporting of all absence-related activities.
5. Return-to-Work Programs:
   • Develop and implement return-to-work strategies for employees who have been absent for extended periods, including accommodations and modified duties if necessary.
   • Conduct return-to-work interviews to identify any ongoing issues and address them proactively.
6. Training and Awareness:
   • Provide training to managers on absence management policies, return-to-work processes, and how to handle absence-related issues.
   • Promote awareness of absence management policies throughout the organization to ensure consistent application.
7. Policy Development:
   • Assist in the continuous review and improvement of absence management policies, ensuring alignment with best practices, legal updates, and organizational needs.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience:  
  • Previous experience in employee relations or absence management (2+ years).
  • Strong understanding of employment laws and regulations related to absence, leave entitlements, and employee well-being.
• Skills:  
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
  • Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
  • Experience with HR management systems or absence tracking software is a plus.

Personal Attributes:

• Empathetic and supportive with the ability to handle sensitive employee issues.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on resolving conflicts and issues fairly.
• Proactive and results-driven, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Additional Requirements:

• A high level of confidentiality and discretion is required due to the nature of the work.
• Flexibility to handle a variety of tasks and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.