Employee Relations & Compliance Specialist

Sonder is on a mission to revolutionize hospitality and make a world of better stays open to all. No two Sonders are the same – each property has a bespoke design and contains a mix of rooms, suites, and apartments. Though each Sonder is unique, our mobile app allows guests to effortlessly navigate their stay. From check-in to checkout, everything they need is just a tap away. To be better is a never-ending pursuit and revolutions don’t happen overnight. But, together, we can forever change the way people stay, for the better.

We are looking for someone who breathes hospitality operations and is energized by the opportunity to maximize, motivate, and inspire a team to deliver an amazing Sonder guest experience. Our Sonder locations are distributed across a city in different shapes, sizes, ages, and styles, and we pride ourselves on offering a hotel-like service. That’s what you’ll own.

Life at Sonder

We aspire to build a workplace where employees can thrive. Our culture shapes how we make decisions, how we conduct meetings, how we communicate, and how we treat each other. It’s the coordinated way in which we work that gives us a shot at achieving the epic tale we hope to be part of. Our Leadership Principles are a foundational part of our culture and they play a vital role in guiding the values and actions of our team members. Each of these principles is at the heart of what we do. Check out this article to find out more about our Culture and Principles.

Our Employee & Labor Relations team collaborates closely with leadership, People Business Partners, Legal and employees to advise on complex matters, including performance improvement and investigations. We endeavor to achieve a balance of employee advocacy and company stewardship, in adherence with the Company’s values. In realizing every employee's potential, we enable the company's success.

The this role will support the company by ensuring that managers are well-equipped to implement people solutions that will resolve employee relations matters, build a positive employee relations climate, and ensure compliance with relevant employment legislation. This individual plays a vital role in partnering with our leaders, acting as an ER first point of contact, and championing the employee experience. This individual will support the creation and implementation of policies and practices designed to foster a positive work environment, minimize risk, and ensure legal compliance across all of our EMEA operations. 
 

THE OPPORTUNITY:

• Provide coaching, guidance and support on investigations, conduct concerns and performance improvement requirements being handled by the Employee & Labor Relations team

• Support in updating employee relations practices and compliance policies based upon legal requirements, industry standards and needs of the business

• Manage workplace investigations in partnership with and support from department head, ER & Labor Relations manager, and People Business Partners 

• Manage accurate documentation and recordkeeping for all employee relations matters across EMEA in line with local legal requirements 

• Support with creating and providing ongoing education and development for managers i.e. process requirements, legislative updates, case studies, best practices, etc

• Discern urgent ER matters and when to escalate to the department head on complex Employee Relations matters; recognizing and mitigating risk to our people, business and brand

• Identify and build relationships with key leaders and partners in applicable regional markets and acts as the primary point of contact for urgent ER matters

• Remain informed on employee relations trends, internal policy updates and updates to legislation and European Works Council requirements

• Be the first point of contact for EMEA managers and manage caseload ensuring that all SLAs are met

• Be a trusted advisor for leaders and employees in EMEA with a focus on the UK&I markets

• Support the Employee and Labor Relations manager with the creation and the presentation of ER analytic data 

• Additional responsibilities as assigned, and to best support your team, stakeholders, and Sonder.

WHO WE LOOK FOR:

• Human Resources experience with a focus on Employee Relations with a strong preference for experience in managing Workplace Investigations

• Experience supporting a range of employee populations; working with a front line workforce across the UK is strongly preferred; Additional experience supporting various EMEA regions is preferred. 

• Established knowledge of employment law and labor standards in EMEA Countries with a focus on the UK&I

• Must be extremely organized with high attention to detail and effective follow-up skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (including effective listening) in English required, additional European languages are a plus.

• Must be capable of multitasking in a busy, high volume environment and have the ability to effectively manage time, prioritize tasks and work within deadlines

• Ability to think creatively with a proactive and curious mindset to identify alternatives and navigate with cross-functional partners to resolve issues

• A phenomenal team player who knows how and when to collaborate to ensure success, and is comfortable liaising with multiple levels of leadership, HRBPs, and other stakeholders to get things done

• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, relationship and team building skills

• Fun sense of humor and the ability to thrive in a very fast-paced, ambiguous environment

• Consistently exhibit high levels of discretion, integrity and confidentiality

• Act with empathy

• Prior hospitality experience preferred

• Associate level CIPD qualified and/or certificate in human resources management is preferred

• Occasional travel within our existing markets; anticipated travel 10%

Benefits

We offer attractive employee travel perks for any Sonder location as well as competitive stock, health and lifestyle benefits. For eligible employees, benefits may include:

• Competitive compensation

• Generous stock plan

• Medical, dental and vision insurance (where applicable)

• Flexible vacation

• Wellness and volunteering days

• Annual free credits and discounts to stay in Sonders

• Workplace flexibility (for remote-specified positions only) #ABetterWaytoWork

Learn More About Sonder

• Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

• Data Privacy Policy

• Blog: Sonder Stories

• Instagram: @sonderstays

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other classification protected by applicable state, federal or local law. Extend Hospitality To All is one of Sonder’s Leadership Principles. Living up to that principle means fully embracing diversity: ensuring that all of our employees, guests, partners, and communities feel safe, respected, included, cared for, and empowered. 

As part of our commitment to creating a workplace open to all, we have created Sonder Circles, also known as employee resource groups. These groups aim to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace aligned with the communities they serve. 

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to recruiting@sonder.com.