Employee Relations Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and coach a team of Employee Relations Partners — setting quality standards for documentation and process flow, overseeing caseload distribution, and continuous process improvement within the team.
• Lead or oversee complex, high-risk workplace investigations with airtight documentation in our case management system, partnering with Legal to reduce organizational and legal risk.
• Own performance-management casework end-to-end, coaching managers through documented coaching plans, PIPs, disciplinary actions, and exits, while balancing employee experience, fairness, and business risk.
• Translate Gusto's codes of conduct and other policies into consistent, fair practice across departments — especially through periods of rapid scaling and structural change.
• Enable managers on performance management processes, difficult conversations, and structural team changes.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field; an advanced degree or JD is a plus.
• 7–10+ years of progressive HR or Employee Relations experience, including direct ownership of ER casework, plus demonstrated experience leading or supervising a team.
• Deep knowledge of employment law (EEOC, ADA, FMLA, FLSA) and experience conducting employee investigations — interviewing, assessing facts, documenting findings, and partnering with Legal when appropriate.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, with the ability to influence, inspire, and guide both within and outside of hierarchical lines. .
• Excellent judgment navigating ambiguity — balancing employee experience, fairness and consistency, business needs, and organizational risk when making recommendations.