People Relations Partner

About H&M Group

H&M Group is an international company representing diverse fashion brands aimed at delivering exceptional design, affordable pricing, and sustainable practices. Our mission is to make fashion accessible to everyone, putting our customers at the forefront of all decisions. Our team consists of passionate professionals united by shared values, committed to advancing the fashion industry towards inclusivity and sustainability.

Role Overview

As a People Relations Partner, you will play a pivotal role by providing consistent and compliant People Relations support to the business. This includes managing labor laws, employee cases, and fostering workplace wellbeing through cross-functional cooperation. Reporting to the People Manager, you will work onsite at the Toronto Support Office in a hybrid setup.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements, maintaining a consistent approach to People Relations.
• Develop and sustain positive connections with employee representatives, works councils, and unions to support a collaborative workplace climate.
• Offer expert counsel on labor legislation, workplace wellbeing, and employee case handling to guarantee fair and uniform treatment.
• Manage individual employee cases, investigations, grievances, and disciplinary proceedings.
• Assist Store Managers with illness-related matters, including advising on difficult conversations and ensuring compliance with applicable laws such as the gatekeeper law.
• Support arbitration procedures and dispute resolutions.
• Oversee the local grievance mechanisms and associated tools.
• Participate in change management and strategic projects requiring People Relations expertise.
• Collaborate with leaders to implement People Relations strategies that align global guidelines with local compliance and employee expectations.
• Work with various departments to maintain a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace promoting wellbeing and engagement.
• Lead or contribute to initiatives enhancing People Relations capabilities and driving organizational change at local and sales market levels.
• Conduct trainings and communications to boost manager knowledge on labor relations, health and safety, and employee engagement.
• Ensure managers are equipped with the necessary competencies and tools in People Relations.
• Coach managers on goal setting, performance tracking, and improvement techniques.
• Interpret business context to define appropriate actions from a People Relations standpoint.

Candidate Profile

• University degree in Human Resources, Labor Law, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Proven background in People Relations, Labor Relations, or HR Business Partner roles.
• Strong expertise in labor legislation, collective bargaining, and health & safety standards.
• Excellent advisory capabilities, communication skills, and stakeholder management aptitude.
• Demonstrated capacity to handle complex employee cases and negotiations.
• Analytical, proactive, and solution-driven approach.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of additional local languages is advantageous.

Why Join H&M

• We embrace diverse backgrounds including race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.
• We operate as a values-led organization with seven fundamental values guiding our 75-year success story.
• Access to Colleague Resource Groups providing community and networking opportunities.
• Inclusive culture encouraging employees to be authentic at work.
• Belong to a vast global talent community supporting career advancement without limits.
• Enjoy personal style expression supported by employee discounts at H&M, & Other Stories, and COS.

Compensation

The salary for this role is $113,994 annually.

Additional Information

This description encompasses the primary responsibilities and criteria for the position but is not exhaustive. Additional duties may be assigned as deemed necessary by the company. Compensation figures are assessed in good faith, subject to adjustments based on candidate qualifications, and may change over time.