Equity Residential · 4 weeks ago
Employee Relations Manager
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$107K/yr - $131K/yr
7+ years expEquity Residential is dedicated to creating thriving communities, fostering a workplace culture of authenticity and collaboration. The Employee Relations Manager centralizes the approach to employee relations, leading investigations into workplace issues and partnering with HR to implement proactive interventions.
Property ManagementReal Estate
Responsibilities
Serves as the primary point of contact for employee relations issues and manages the case life cycle from intake to resolution
Conducts impartial, thorough, and timely investigations into complaints (e.g., harassment, discrimination, misconduct, policy violations), maintaining accurate and confidential documentation and partners with Legal on high-risk or escalated matters
Maintains investigation standards, tools, and templates for rigor and consistency
Coaches and advises managers on performance documentation, accountability, difficult conversations, and recommendations for corrective actions or termination
Ensures a consistent and proactively communicated employee experience throughout the investigation process
Leverages employee relations data and analytics to identify trends and emerging risks, reporting findings and recommendations to HR leadership and providing insights to HR Business Partners for proactive intervention, workforce planning, and manager development
Ensures consistent and thorough tracking and documentation of all employee relations issues in the case management database
Provides an ER perspective during organizational changes and transitions
Serves as a key advisor to HR leadership on employee relations matters, organizational dynamics, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation; this includes advising leaders on complex scenarios like policy/misconduct violations and owning the maintenance and modernization of ER-related policies and investigation standards
Stays informed about industry trends, emerging threats, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding employee issues and investigative best practices to inform and adapt ER strategies
Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations, including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements, and oversees the interactive process related to ADA and other reasonable accommodation obligations
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field
7-10 years of progressive HR experience, specifically including employee relations and investigations
Strong working knowledge of employment laws (federal, state, local)
Exceptional documentation and rigorous fact-finding skills
Strong interpersonal, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills
Ability to synthesize complex data and identify trends for proactive intervention
Computer w/Internet and email capabilities, telephone, photocopier
Ability to hear and speak well enough to converse verbally over the phone, in virtual meetings and in-person
Ability to interpret, evaluate and communicate detailed written or verbal instructions to others accurately and easily
Able to see well enough to use the computer effectively and read written communications
Preferred
Paralegal certificate or equivalent paralegal experience strongly preferred
HR certification (PHR, SPHR) preferred
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision care
9 paid holidays
Annual vacation time
Paid sick leave
New parent benefits
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Rent Discounts
Competitive Compensation
Paid Community Service Hours
Leadership Development
Company
Equity Residential
Equity Residential (EQR) is a real estate investment trust (REIT).
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknown1993-08-11IPO
Leadership Team
Kristin Hupfer
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Customer Experience
David Lane
Vice President, Property Management
Recent News
2025-10-24
MarketScreener
2025-09-12
Morningstar.com
2025-09-02
Company data provided by crunchbase