Director, Employee & Labour Relations

Your work days are brighter here.

At Workday, it all began with a conversation over breakfast. When our founders met at a sunny California diner, they came up with an idea to revolutionize the enterprise software market. And when we began to rise, one thing that really set us apart was our culture. A culture which was driven by our value of putting our people first. And ever since, the happiness, development, and contribution of every Workmate is central to who we are. Our Workmates believe a healthy employee-centric, collaborative culture is the essential mix of ingredients for success in business. That’s why we look after our people, communities and the planet while still being profitable. Feel encouraged to shine, however that manifests: you don’t need to hide who you are. You can feel the energy and the passion, it's what makes us unique. Inspired to make a brighter work day for all and transform with us to the next stage of our growth journey? Bring your brightest version of you and have a brighter work day here.

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About the Team

Workday is looking for a Director of Employee & Labour Relations EMEA based in London or Dublin to lead a team of Employee Relations Partners and People Consultants in the EMEA region. This role reports to our Senior Director, Global Employee Relations and is part of our People Consulting, Employee Relations and HR Compliance function. This is an incredible opportunity for an experienced leader with a passion for employee experience and workplace culture to lead a high performing team through our next wave of growth.

About the Role

• Coach, mentor and develop a team using deep subject matter expertise in the areas of employee relations, performance management, conflict resolution, labour relations and HR policy/compliance

• Build and implement an EMEA Employee and Labour Relations strategy that aligns with the company’s goals and values, partnering closely with key cross functional stakeholders like People Business Partners, Employment Legal, Site Experience, Employee Communications, Workplace and HR Compliance

• Proactively identify employee relations issues and develop strategies to prevent or mitigate them

• Analyse case trends, generate data insights and develop solutions to address hot spots,including training managers on employee relations matters, and intervention strategies/programs

• Support existing and emerging Works Council management needs and create and maintain positive relationships with works council representatives

• Manage employee relations issues, cases and investigations in EMEA, ensuring they are resolved promptly and in line with company policies and applicable laws

• Stay current on industry trends, best practices and changes in employment laws to ensure the company remains compliant and maintains a competitive employee and labour relations strategy

• Ensure effective processes and policies are in place

• Partner with an international team of experts to drive a global community of employee relations and people consulting practices

• Complete ad-hoc projects, reporting and tasks as required with cross-functional HR and COE teams

• Create a fun, diverse and inclusive environment

About You

Business Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources or Employee/Labour Relations; preferably also CIPD qualified

• Solid knowledge of European labour laws, employment regulations and standard processes in employee and labour relations

• Extensive experience of managing or overseeing relations with Works Councils across Europe, specifically in countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands, and of managing interactions with other social partners such as national level Trade Unions or government labour/employment bodies (e.g. ACAS, WRC etc..)

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information discretely and professionally

• Experience in conducting investigations and resolving complex issues in a global organization 

• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build solid relationships with cross functional partners and to effectively interact with employees at all levels

• Strong mediation and conflict resolution abilities 

• Ability to influence business partners at every level 

• Cultural awareness and deep experience of navigating distinct labour landscapes across the region

Other Qualifications

• Multilingual preferred; fluent in English and ideally another European language

• Strong presentation and training skills 

• Experience with ER case management solutions and/or data analytics 

• Strong organisational and time management abilities with the capacity to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines

• Outstanding problem solving and decision making skills

At Workday, we believe every potential recruit brings value to the table. Believe you are missing some of the skills and are hesitant to apply? We do not believe in the ‘perfect’ candidate and are happy to teach. So however you identify and whatever background you bring with you, apply and see what we are all about.

Our Approach to Flexible Work
 

With Flex Work, we’re combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.

Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at Workday about our Employee Referral process!