Employee Relations Partner

Upgrade is a fintech company that provides affordable and responsible credit, mobile banking, and payment products to everyday consumers. We were the fastest growing company in the Americas last year according to the Financial Times and Upgrade Card was the fastest growing credit card in America two years in a row. We have delivered over $33 billion in affordable and responsible credit to our 5.5M customers. The company is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors and was recently valued at $6.3B.

We have built an energizing, collaborative and inclusive culture where team members help each other, learn and innovate to move the company and its customers in the right direction, and own the outcome of their efforts.

Upgrade has been named a “Best Place to Work in the Bay Area” three years in a row, “Top Companies to work for in Arizona” and one of the "Best Engineering Department" awarded annually by Comparably. We've also received recognition for being a best company for Diversity, Women, Culture, and Veterans.

We are looking for new team members who get excited about designing and delivering new and better products to join a team of 1850 talented and dedicated professionals. Come work with us if you like to tackle big problems and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

About the Role:

We are looking for an Employee Relations (ER) Partner to join the team in our Phoenix Call Center. This person will be responsible for partnering with business leaders and their team members on key areas that impact work happiness and company culture. This role is a champion for our team members and is a strategic advisor to the people managers. As a trusted consultant to the people managers, the ER Partner will focus on adherence to legal compliance and fair treatment of team members. Reporting to the Director, HRBP (Phoenix), this position provides high quality, proactive and professional service to internal team members throughout their employee lifecycle. The partner will focus on resolving workplace issues and minimizing risk to the organization by utilizing best practices in employee relations at our Phoenix Service Center. 

This role will be based on-site in our Phoenix Service Center.  

What You’ll Do:

• You'll be the voice of our team members by hearing their concerns, and providing counsel in employee relations


• Review corrective action for performance, attendance and conduct issues


• Conducts effective, thorough, and objective investigations


• Partner with leaders to resolve complex employee relations and interpersonal issues 


• Partner with leaders to provide guidance on our policies and employment law 


• Partner with key stakeholders such as the People Operations, Legal, and Compliance to build new policies that make sense for the organization


• Prepare and present reports on employee relations metrics and trends, recommending improvements or interventions where necessary


• Collaborate with HR Business Partners to stay aligned with business priorities, organizational changes, and key performance indicators (KPIs)


• Manage the end-to-end process of employee terminations, ensuring they are conducted professionally, legally, and in line with company policies


• Maintain strong case documentation 

What We Look For:

• Employee Relations Partner experience within a fast-paced environment as a culture champion 


• Experience navigating ambiguity, building and enforcing HR processes & policy


• Possess a good gut instinct that enables you to make decisions based on evidence and experience in the industry


• Keep the team updated on employment laws and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations - Someone who gets the gist of what's legal and what's not


• Experience supporting start ups in the valley in a People Operations capacity


• Communication wizard and the ability to effectively partner with all levels of team members and leadership


• Experience in a customer facing position in the past (such as hospitality, restaurant, events, etc.)


• Completed a 4 year college degree in a related field (required)

Nice to Have:

• Fintech experience


• Experience providing HR support in a call center environment


• Masters in HR and/ or business administration 


• PHR/SHRM-CP Certification strongly preferred

• Competitive salary and stock option plan


• 100% paid coverage of medical, dental and vision insurance


• Flexible PTO


• Opportunities for professional growth and development 


• Paid parental leave


• Health & wellness initiatives

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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, or disability status.

Upgrade does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or any third parties. Any resume submitted to any employee of Upgrade without a prior written agreement in place will be considered the property of Upgrade, and Upgrade will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fee. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Upgrade's Talent Acquisition department to submit resumes and only in conjunction with a valid, fully executed agreement.