Employee Relations Manager/ Advocate

Hiring Now: EMPLOYEE RELATIONS MANAGER / ADVOCATE 

Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants is seeking an Employee Relations Manager & Advocate to join our Corporate Office team in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. For this highly visible role, we are looking for someone who has exceptional emotional intelligence and a proven track record of effective communication to both support and counsel our hourly and management teams.  

Our ideal candidate will possess: 

• 5+ years of HR experience, with a strong emphasis on Employee Relations
• Experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry preferred
• Experience in supporting a multi-state environment and a large hourly workforce
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Ability to travel to out-of-town markets (20-30%) 

A Few of Our Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Paid Time Off - including Paid Holidays, Personal Days & Vacation
• 401(k)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life, Accident Protection & Critical Illness Insurance
• Domestic Partner Benefits
• Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program - focusing on a commitment to mental health & wellness

Why Work With Lettuce? 

Lettuce is a culinary-driven restaurant company with a genuine commitment to our people: we welcome unique perspectives and nurture diverse talents at 130+ locations, supported by our Culture of Caring. If you’re ready to be a part of what we do next, then explore your possibilities at Lettuce and apply today!

Candidates must be able to commute to Lettuce Corporate (5419 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago IL 60640).

EOE. We participate in E-Verify 

• Be an HR resource to and advocate for leaders, management teams and employees at all levels while proactively fostering Lettuce’s Culture of Caring and employee relations strategies and reducing risk through ethical compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
• Investigate, document, coach and counsel the resolution of a wide variety of employee relations matters and front-line policy inquiries; recommend strategies and tactical approaches to HR and restaurant and corporate leaders that foster an engaging and productive work environment; and support operational and business goals
• Provide back up support to the teams who are directly responsible for other HR-related matters, including benefits, leaves of absence, unemployment claims, and workers’ compensation
• Support the execution of the HR and Employee Relations teams’ strategic and tactical goals related to performance management, employee feedback, DEI, Lettuce and location-specific employment policies, benefits and more
• Provide feedback and guidance to leaders, management teams and employees, including policies, employee communications, one-on-one discussions, team meetings, training sessions, employee feedback sessions and educational and informational presentations of all kinds
• Maintain a working knowledge of and enforce compliance with applicable laws and regulations in all geographic markets
• Visit local and out-of-state business units in all geographic markets periodically to conduct and document investigations, build in-person relationships with leaders, management teams and employees at all levels, obtain and respond to employee feedback, gauge employee engagement levels, coach management teams and provide front-line employee relations support
• Maintain availability to perform duties outside standard business hours on occasion as needed, including evenings and weekends
• Ability to effectively communicate in order to perform and follow job requirements in written and spoken direction
• Multitask calmly and effectively under pressure  
• Occasionally retrieve and distribute files or office supplies weighing up to 10 pounds

• 5+ years of HR experience, with a strong emphasis on Employee Relations
• Experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry preferred
• Experience in supporting a multi-state environment and a large hourly workforce
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Ability to travel to out-of-town markets (20-30%)
•