The HR team is responsible for the provision of a full range of HR services to the Firm (c. 1,200 UK staff), including recruitment and resourcing, compensation and benefits, performance management, employee relations, staff wellbeing, advice on employment law issues, compliance with Law Society/statutory obligations, diversity and inclusion, and maintenance of e-personnel records.
Inclusiveness and Diversity
At Fieldfisher, led by the social model of disability, we are working towards removing accessibility barriers and maximising disability and neurodiversity inclusion in our recruitment processes.
Should you have any accessibility requirements, please contact a member of Fieldfisher's Recruitment Team who will work with you to implement suitable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All conversations are treated in the strictest of confidence and we would appreciate your feedback to ensure we can provide an accessible and enjoyable recruitment process.
For accessibility information on our London offices, please visit our website.
Responsibilities
The job holder will work under the HR Operations team who are responsible for all generalist HR processes and activities. You will report into one of the teams HR Business Partners, working closely with them to provide dedicated, proactive advisory support to an allocation of fee earning groups.
HR Advisory
- Provide guidance and assistance to employees, managers and partners across the full HR life cycle (i.e. from start through to departure), keeping the HR Business Partner abreast of all ongoings in each allocated business unit.
- Manage the family leave process for all employees (maternity, adoption, co-parent, shared parental leave).
- Responsible for absence management, including conducting return to work interviews, reviewing absence trigger points, occupational health referrals, supporting PHI processes and implementing reasonable adjustments.
- Handle flexible working processes, including informal and formal requests and hybrid working patterns and compliance.
- Undertake exit interviews and analysing themes which may require further investigation or action.
- Lead on smaller disciplinary, capability or grievance procedures, or provide support to more complex cases, working closely with the HR Business Partner and ER Advisor.
- Support HR Business Partner with delivery of performance and talent management processes, including annual performance and salary review.
- Coach and support people managers with the above, providing solutions that are commercial and in line with people best practice, while minimising risk and financial exposure.
- Provide day-to-day support and advice to the business on policy and process queries. Work to ensure that the Firm's HR policies and procedures are consistently applied.
HR Operations
- Work closely with HR Administration team to ensure all administrative tasks (drafting letters, updating HRIS etc) relating to your allocated business units are conducted within agreed SLA's.
- Ensure payroll changes are provided to the Administration and Payroll teams in a timeline and efficient manner.
- Take responsibility for delivering bi-weekly inductions to new joiners.
- Create and produce reports and management information on request.
HR Projects
- Lead on smaller HR projects at a business unit-level or with a firm-wide reach.
- Contribute to larger HR projects and policy development to drive improvement, in line with the Firm's HR strategy.
- Advise on, support and implement initiatives internally and externally that promote culture, inclusion and people best practice.
Key Skills & Experience
- Generalist HR experience, at least as an HR Assistant (or equivalent), is essential.
- Experience within a legal and/or professional services organisation, or with a good understanding of professional services/partnerships.
- Excellent understanding of English Employment Law and evidence of practical application. Understanding of Northern Ireland employment law is desirable, but not essential.
- The necessary drive and commitment to deliver first-rate, proactive and appropriate HR support.
- Experience in managing or supporting employee relations cases (disciplinary, capability, grievance etc).
- Excellent attention to detail, ability to multitask, prioritise and manage conflicting demands.
- A confident and professional manner; quickly able to establish credibility with the partners and/or senior managers.
- Ability to effectively and appropriately challenge and influence using commercial acumen and strong HR knowledge.
- Diplomacy and pragmatism are essential.
- A positive and resilient disposition as well as being a strong team player.
- An awareness of and commitment to complying with our Equality and Diversity Policy and procedures.
- Strong academics.
- A good working knowledge of IT packages (MS Word, Excel and Outlook) and familiarity with HR systems.
- Experience of working for a multi-site organisation is desired, but not essential.
What can we offer you?
Our people are at the core of what we do. Fieldfisher's benefits package is designed to enable all colleagues to thrive in an inclusive and supportive environment. These benefits range from private health insurance, life assurance & income protection, flexi-gym discounts, season ticket loans, bike-to-work loans, electric vehicle scheme and much more.
Fieldfisher HQ is based in the vibrant and thriving City of London, which has something for everyone. Offering excellent commuter links based a 5-minute walk away from Monument and Bank tube stations. Views overlooking the River Thames and Tower Bridge from our 9th floor terrace, open plan workspaces that encourages a sense of camaraderie, hot-desking, discounted coffee in our on-site cafe, bike storage, shower facilities and much more.
We have diverse teams made up of our Partners, Lawyers and Business Services Professionals, collaborating to provide outstanding service to our clients, working across our many different sectors and practice areas.