Are you looking for a supportive and collaborative workplace with great benefits and clear career development? You’ve come to the right place.

Why choose Manulife?

• Competitive Salary packages and performance bonuses

• Day 1 HMO + FREE coverage for your dependents (inclusive of same-sex partners)

• Retirement savings benefit

• Rewarding culture that values wellness and well-being

• Performance Bonus

• Global network of industry experts

• Extensive training resources

Job Description

Reporting to the Head of HR Employee Relations, this role shall provide professional advice and support to the business in the area of Employee Relations and shall act as the consultant for leaders in facilitating disciplinary cases. The role shall be responsible in handling all Employee Relations concern ensuring that legal risks are minimized if not eliminated. The role is accountable for own work and contributes to setting strong ER standards through expertise that impact other’s deliverables.  Can lead medium to large size projects or work streams with moderate resource requirements, risk and/or complexity with multiple teams representing different interests.
Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the job function, the role must be capable of functioning at a high level of autonomy and independence, be competent in dealing with a broad range of employee issues and confident when interacting with employees and management at all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work as a strategic partner with the different HR Leaders and HR Teams.
  • As an Employee Relations Subject Matter Expert, provides guidance to HR Leaders and different HR Teams on matters related to ER to ensure that all HR policies and guidelines in place are compliant to the minimum standards of the law in the Philippine labor setting.
  • Provides support to HR Leaders in the interpretation on local labor advisories and labor law updates to ensure compliance.
  • Acts as a mediator/conciliation and go to person in resolving work related conflict/issues and provide/recommend best resolution.
  • Supports HR Partners and HR Leaders on people strategy to ensure a seamless overall employee experience.
• Work as coach/consultant to Business Leaders of the different Functions/Entities.
  • Provides professional advice – takes a lead role of process or program execution
  • Strong ability to interpret both internal and external legal compliance matters related to Employee Relations ensuring that risks are minimized if not eliminated.  Provides recommendation on the course of action and industry practice to improve processes or guidelines. Closely monitor/track and ensure that policies, practices, and decisions are aligned and compliant with applicable local legislation
  • Review, advise and provide support as appropriate, on employee demotions and terminations to ensure compliance with provincial and federal laws, policies, procedures, and standard management practices.
  • Provide credible advice, guidance, and professional support with respect to interpretation and application of employee relations and associated policies, practices, procedures to HR Business Partner, HR Business Consultants, and Recruiting Consultants
  • Advise and provide guidance/support to employees regarding work-related issues including, but not limited to, conflicts with manager/peer, role strain, performance issues, real or perceived discrimination and disability/leave management.
  • Provide direct assistance to people leaders as appropriate, in the resolution of individual workplace disputes, including mediation.
  • Support HR Partners and HR Leaders on people strategy to ensure a seamless overall employee experience
• Case Management.
  • Preparation of notices related to Just and Authorized Causes of termination
  • End to end case processing of terminable cases including writing Notices to Explain and Notices of Decision
  • Assists Leaders in Drafting Notices and advise them on proper sanctions based on the Labor Code and the Company Standards of Professional Conduct
  • Determine Disciplinary sanctions based on the Labor Code and the Company Standards of Professional Conduct and advise management on the risk decisions would take.
  • Coordination with both internal/external Legal Counsel on complex cases.
• Manage the formal complaint process including documentation for harassment, discrimination, ethical and conflict of interest complaints/issues and any others of a highly sensitive nature.

• Provide/recommend additional escalation/intervention on all complaints as appropriate.
• Provide appropriate support during large-scale interventions (e.g. trauma, business continuity)
• Manage and coordinate issues related to absenteeism and medical accommodations.
• Ensure that involuntary employee terminations are handled appropriately, within the legal and statutory requirements and in accordance with standard management practices and policies including severance.
• Manage legal issues resulting from involuntary termination or other matters directly with the employee, the employee’s legal Counsel and Manulife’s legal team as appropriate.
• Provide advice and support to employees, people leaders and HR Partners during organizational design changes or strategic cost management activities working closely with our Global ER Operations Team.

• Closely monitor/track and ensure that policies, practices, and decisions are aligned and compliant with the Labor Code of the Philippines
  • Coordinate with both internal/external Legal Counsel and attend conciliation meetings if the need arises.
  • Review and amend company guidelines, processes and policies related to Employee Relations on a regular basis

• Project Management
  • Suggest, lead and initiate process improvement in Employee Relations programs and processes and other HR related processes that would benefit HR / ER and its internal clients
  • Create and implement local standards that has impact to Employee Relations and people strategy as needed

Qualifications:

• At least 7 years of in-depth experience in Philippine Employee Relations, Labor Relations or Industrial Relations in the BPO or Finance industry
• Bachelor’s degree preferably Political Science, Legal Management or other courses related to the role
• Skilled in case management/managing conflict among employees through mediation or negotiations as well as facilitating arbitration.
• Working knowledge on PH labor laws related termination process.
• Knowledge in the finance and insurance industry including related regulatory requirements and compliance
• High Analytical Skills to come up with sound judgment and resolution
• Strong stakeholder management, influence and presentation skills

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected].

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