How to Hire an Employee Relations Consultant

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Establish a goal or job description for your employee relations consultant.

   Focus on areas where your company may be struggling, such as high turnover, increased harassment complaints, poor employee morale or problems compromising on pay, benefits and other issues between employees and management.
   
   Discuss the scope and use of an employee relations consultant with your existing Human Resources team.
   
   They can be helpful in determining what to look for in a consultant.
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   Step 2: Look for someone with appropriate education.

   Depending on your industry, this might be an MBA, or a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management or a related field. , This experience should be in general human resources matters as well as specific employee relations roles. , While there is no specific certification for employee relations, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers certifications that are valuable to consultants. , Seek good communicators who are comfortable advising vice presidents as well as hourly employees.
   
   Consider hiring a bilingual consultant if you have a large workforce with Spanish as a first language. ,
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   Step 3: Seek consultants with experience.

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   Step 4: Pay attention to certifications.

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   Step 5: Look for an employee relations consultant who can relate to your employees as well as management.

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   Step 6: Look for demonstrated and specific skills such as negotiation

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   Step 7: mediation

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   Step 8: conflict management and facilitation.

Detailed Guide

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