Employee Relations Specialist

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Department: Team Member Experience | Classification: Full-Time, Exempt | Reports to: Senior Employee Relations Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

Walters Hospitality is in the business of helping people celebrate life's most momentous occasions. Across our growing portfolio of 45+ wedding and event venues and vendor services, we show up for customers at a moment that matters more than almost any other.

The Employee Relations Specialist role is for HR professionals who know that how a company handles its toughest moments says everything about its culture. Here's what makes this different: you're not just processing paperwork. You're the person team members and leaders turn to when something isn't right, when life happens, or when a hard decision needs to be made fairly. You'll manage employee relations matters from intake through resolution, including investigations, corrective action, leaves and accommodations, workers' compensation, and unemployment claims, for a multi-state team of 900+ team members. This is work where your judgment, discretion, and follow-through protect both our people and our company, and the work actually matters.

The best people in this role stay steady when things get complicated. They gather the facts, apply policy consistently, document clearly, and know when a matter needs another set of eyes. And they do it as part of One Team. You'll start with a structured 90-day ramp-up, working closely with our Employee Relations leadership as you take ownership of cases, and grow into managing matters independently as you demonstrate readiness. If you're organized, fair, calm under pressure, and you care about doing right by people, this is your role.

THE DAY-TO-DAY

- Own the Inbox: Monitor the shared Employee Relations inbox, identify time-sensitive concerns, prioritize follow-up, and respond to team member and leader questions within established guidance

- Manage Cases Start to Finish: Handle intake, gather records and accounts, conduct investigations as appropriate, evaluate information against company policy, develop recommendations, and see each matter through to closure

- Guide Leaders Through Corrective Action: Coach leaders on corrective action steps and documentation, review drafts for factual support and consistency, and coordinate follow-up through completion

- Coordinate Leaves and Accommodations: Manage intake, documentation, tracking, and communication for leave and accommodation requests, applying working knowledge of FMLA and ADA and preparing proposed determinations for review

- Manage Workers' Compensation Claims: Submit claims, gather incident and work-status details, track deadlines, coordinate with carriers and internal partners, and check in with team members throughout their recovery

- Respond to Unemployment Claims: Prepare and submit employer responses through state unemployment portals within required deadlines, and support hearing preparation with organized records

- Keep Meticulous Records: Maintain complete case files, deadlines, decision rationale, and case status in our case management system so nothing falls through the cracks

- Know When to Escalate: Recognize sensitive circumstances, compliance questions, and potential risk, and bring them forward for review at the right time

- Represent Walters: Communicate with empathy, professionalism, and discretion at every touchpoint so team members feel heard and leaders feel supported

YOUR SUPERPOWERS

- You have real experience handling employee relations matters. You've conducted investigations, guided leaders through corrective action, and worked through leaves of absence.

- You're steady in hard conversations. You stay calm, listen well, and communicate with empathy and professionalism, even when emotions are high.

- You're fair and consistent. You follow the facts, apply policy evenly, and document a clear rationale for every recommendation.

- You're highly organized and detail-oriented. You can manage many open cases, deadlines, and follow-ups at once without letting anything slip.

- You protect confidentiality. People trust you with sensitive information because you handle it with care.

- You know when to ask. You use sound judgment, and you recognize when a matter needs additional review or escalation.

- You're a strong writer. Your case notes, summaries, and communications are clear, factual, and professional.

- You're a team player. You believe in One Team culture and enjoy partnering with leaders across operations, sales, and corporate teams.

- You're eager to learn and grow. You welcome feedback during your ramp-up and are motivated to build toward full ownership of your cases.

REQUIREMENTS

- 2+ years of experience in employee relations, HR generalist, or similar roles involving investigations, corrective action, and sensitive employee matters (hospitality or multi-location experience strongly preferred)

- Working knowledge of FMLA and ADA requirements and how they apply to leave and accommodation requests

- Familiarity with workers' compensation and state unemployment claim processes; multi-state experience a plus

- Experience with case documentation, fact gathering, and communicating with both team members and leaders

- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a high level of discretion

- Comfortable learning and using case management systems, HRIS platforms (Paycom preferred), and Google Workspace

- Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple open matters at once

- Must be eligible to work in the United States; Walters Hospitality participates in E-Verify

- Must submit to and pass background check

- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent experience; SHRM-CP or PHR a plus

WHAT YOU'LL GET

- Competitive Base Salary: $62,000-$70,000 annually, based on experience

- Growth & Development: A structured 90-day ramp-up with hands-on guidance from Employee Relations leadership, plus a clear path to independent case ownership

- Health & Well-Being: 85% employer-subsidized medical insurance, plus dental and vision coverage

- Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO

- 401(k) with 4% Company Match

- Device & Phone Stipend

HOW WE WORK

This is a full-time position requiring 40+ hours per week. The role is primarily remote, with onsite attendance at our venues and offices as needed.

Schedule expectations are as follows: Core hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Because employee relations matters don't always follow a schedule, occasional flexibility may be needed to meet deadlines or respond to urgent situations.

This role requires confidentiality, sound judgment, and responsiveness. Team members and leaders will rely on you to keep matters moving, and your follow-through is what builds trust in our Team Member Experience team.

ABOUT WALTERS

Walters Hospitality is a growing portfolio of wedding and event venues dedicated to making life's most important celebrations feel effortless and unforgettable. What started as a family business is now one of the fastest-growing hospitality businesses in the country.

Walters Hospitality is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected under applicable law.