Employee Relations Manager
Redmond, WA, USA
USD 86,100-169,800 / year
At Microsoft, our culture is built on trust, inclusion, and accountability, and our Employee Relations team plays a critical role in bringing that culture to life every day.
As an Employee Relations Manager, you will be a trusted advisor, helping employees and managers navigate complex and sensitive workplace situations. In this role, you will partner closely with leaders, Human Resources colleagues, Legal, and investigation partners to support fair, consistent, and values-aligned outcomes. You'll help employees and managers understand processes, set clear expectations, and move forward with clarity and support while ensuring Microsoft policies, standards, and cultural commitments are upheld.
You'll bring sound judgment, empathy, and investigative expertise to your work, independently managing employee relations matters of moderate complexity and contributing insights that help strengthen manager capability and reduce future workplace concerns. Through coaching, data-informed insights, and collaboration across the HR ecosystem, you'll help foster a respectful and inclusive workplace where people feel supported, valued, and heard.
This is an opportunity to make meaningful impact by supporting individuals during important moments, strengthening team relationships, and contributing to a culture where everyone can do their best work. You'll help create positive employee experiences while enabling managers and teams to navigate challenges effectively and respectfully.
Responsibilities
Investigations
In this role, you'll help foster a workplace where employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work. You'll partner across Human Resources, Legal, and business teams to address employee relations matters with care, fairness, and sound judgment.
- Lead and support employee relations reviews and investigations involving workplace concerns, policy matters, and other sensitive situations.
- Gather and evaluate information through conversations, fact finding, and partnership with key stakeholders to support fair, consistent, and values-aligned outcomes.
- Provide recommendations that balance employee experience, business needs, organizational values, and applicable policies.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation throughout the employee relations process.
- Use case management tools and data to track progress, identify trends, and ensure effective resolution of workplace concerns.
- Collaborate with Human Resources, Legal, Workplace Investigations, Global Security Investigations, and other partners to address complex or highly sensitive matters.
- Identify emerging themes and patterns in employee relations matters and share insights that help strengthen manager capability and improve employee experiences.
- Help evaluate and recommend appropriate actions, resolutions, and next steps while ensuring alignment with Microsoft policies, culture, and applicable legal requirements.
- Contribute ideas that improve processes, tools, and ways of working, helping the team operate more efficiently and effectively.
- Build trusted partnerships across the organization to support a respectful, inclusive, and positive work environment.
Coaching, Consulting & Employee Relations Expertise
As an Employee Relations Manager, you'll serve as a trusted advisor, helping employees, managers, and HR partners navigate workplace situations with clarity, empathy, and confidence.
- Coach and support employees and managers through employee relations processes while helping set clear expectations and providing guidance on available resources and next steps.
- Provide consultation on workplace concerns, conflict resolution, performance-related matters, leave and accommodation processes, and other employee experience topics.
- Partner with leaders to solve complex people challenges and support thoughtful, inclusive decision-making.
- Collaborate across Human Resources disciplines, including HR Business Partners, HR Consulting, Employee Relations, and Leadership teams, to provide expertise and recommendations.
- Serve as a trusted Employee Relations subject matter expert, sharing knowledge, best practices, and guidance across teams.
- Leverage employee relations insights and trends to influence policies, programs, and approaches that enhance the employee experience.
- Facilitate productive conversations that help individuals and teams navigate conflict, strengthen working relationships, and build trust.
- Use active listening, curiosity, and problem-solving skills to understand concerns, uncover root causes, and identify meaningful solutions.
- Help employees and managers access the resources, tools, and support they need to move forward successfully.
- Foster an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, communication is respectful, and people feel heard and supported.
Impact You'll Have
- Create positive employee experiences during challenging and important moments.
- Strengthen manager effectiveness through coaching and guidance.
- Promote fair, consistent, and inclusive workplace practices.
- Build trust across employees, leaders, and HR stakeholders.
- Help shape a culture where everyone can contribute, grow, and do their best work.
Other
- Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team environment.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning, growth, and innovation.
- Embody Microsoft's culture and values in interactions, decision-making, and daily work.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, or related field AND 5+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations OR related field OR Master's Degree in Business, Labor Relations, Human Resources, Law, or related field AND 3+ years experience in human resources operations, labor relations OR related field OR equivalent experience
- 1+ year(s) experience handling internal employee investigations and managing employee conflict.
Additional or Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years experience in experience in HR, mediation, investigation, or ER-related roles OR Juris Doctorate or Master's Degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Human Resources (HR), Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Industrial Relations, Law, or related field AND 3+ years experience in HR, mediation, investigation, or employee relations (ER)-related roles OR equivalent experience.
- 6+ years experience in HR, mediation, investigation, or employee relations (ER)-related roles OR equivalent experience.
- Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification or equivalent.
Employee Relations IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $86,100 - $169,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $113,300 - $187,400 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.