Senior Employee Relations Specialist

At Four Hands, we furnish style. Our mission is to furnish inspiration that enriches the spaces in which we live. We provide an elevated feel to the distinct pieces we design by blending styles, materials, and textures from all around the world. Four Hands manufactures and distributes home furnishing products, serving as design leader for some of the most highly regarded home and lifestyle brands. Our portfolio is sold to retailers, residential and commercial designers, and offer a direct to-the-trade online marketplace. Headquartered in Austin, TX, we have received numerous accolades including ranking in the Inc. 5000 list 14 times and being named one of Austin’s Top Workplaces for 4 years—achievements made possible by our dedicated employees. Four Hands is seeking a seasoned Senior Employee Relations Specialist to drive the resolution of complex employee concerns and contribute to building a fair, compliant, and inclusive workplace culture. In this role, you will lead efforts in conflict resolution and mediation, acting as a trusted advisor to employees and management to foster open dialogue and effective problem-solving. You will ensure the organization adheres to all employment laws and policies, leveraging your policy compliance and legal expertise to mitigate risk and maintain best practices. Additionally, you will play a strategic role in shaping the company’s employee relations strategy, identifying trends, and recommending initiatives to boost employee satisfaction and retention. You will work closely with stakeholders to ensure fair treatment of all employees, promoting an environment where everyone can thrive. As part of your role, you will also engage in cross-functional collaboration to align employee relations practices with the overall People and Culture strategy and business objectives. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of employment law, and a proactive approach to improving workplace dynamics. In This Role Manage and resolve employee relations issues, ensuring that workplace policies and procedures are consistently applied and aligned with employment laws and organizational culture Mediate and resolve conflicts between employees and management, fostering a positive and productive work environment Respond and conduct investigations in response to a range of employee relations matters, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace violence, and other violations of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, providing resolutions in a timely manner Provide guidance to managers on handling disciplinary actions and terminations Communicate regularly regarding pending investigations and provide timely reports with supporting documentation for all completed investigations Monitor legislative updates and changes to employment laws and regulations, ensuring company compliance with policies and practices Assist in the development, implementation, and interpretation of HR policies and procedures Assist with unemployment claims responses; obtain needed information, provide all required responses, ensure responses are filed, and participate in unemployment claims hearings as needed Process all terminations, to include receiving termination requests, ensuring that proper procedures were followed leading up to the termination request and appropriate supporting documentation has been collected, and executing the complete termination process as outlined in SOPs Analyze employee relations trends with Leadership and recommend strategies to enhance employee satisfaction and retention Work closely with People and Culture team members, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to employee relations Develop tools and resources to support management in handling employee relations matters Work with the People Development team to deliver training programs for managers and employees on topics related to employee relations Experience working with or commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, ensuring fair treatment for all employees Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives to support the overall People and Culture strategy and business objectives Uphold our Core Values and be a valuable member of the Four Hands Team Other duties as assigned by Management The Ideal Person 7+ years’ experience in employee relations, human resources or a related field Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP) is highly desirable Spanish and English bilingual required Proven track record of successfully managing complex employee relations issues Strong conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to de-escalate tense situations and guide parties to mutually acceptable solutions Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local employment laws and regulations Ability to navigate complex employee relations situations while adhering to ethical standards and company values Cultural competence, experience working with diverse populations and understanding cultural differences in conflict resolution and ability to mitigate unconscious biases Thorough understanding and application of internal and external HR principles, concepts, practices, and standards Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage and successfully prioritize multiple employee relations cases or policy changes simultaneously High degree of individual initiative, resourcefulness, and personal accountability Excellent communication and interpersonal skills About Four Hands Four Hands manufactures and distributes home furnishing products, serving as design leader for some of the most highly regarded home and lifestyle brands, and selling our portfolio through online platforms and retailers nationwide. We are an award-winning company that has proven to be a disruptor business, challenging the status quo of the furniture industry through our groundbreaking approaches. With a vision to furnish the entire home, we introduce more than 2,000 styles annually across bedroom, living, dining, outdoor, office, and more. Our product development team has established a cohesive, elevated design aesthetic and consistently introduces products that deliver thoughtful style, livability, and endless inspiration. While pursuing sustainable growth, Four Hands has anticipated industry trends, such as preparing for the rise of e-commerce by investing in marketing assets, drop-ship programs, and technology, capitalizing on the growing interest of the interior design community to work directly with the company. Four Hands has also built strong relationships with diversified global vendors to ensure consistent product availability and quality. Four Hands employs a growing team of nearly 700 staff and maintains an expansive corporate headquarters and distribution centers in Austin, TX; showrooms in High Point, NC, and Las Vegas, NV; offices in China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam. Four Hands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Four Hands recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. For more details, please visit us at www.fourhands.com.