Employee Relations Specialist

The Employee Relations & Driver Experience Partner owns the day-to-day employee experience for drivers, with a strong focus on early intervention, issue resolution, and retention.

This role serves as the first line of support for employee concerns and works closely with Operations, Safety, and HR to resolve issues quickly, consistently, and fairly. The goal is simple: identify problems early, reduce avoidable turnover, and ensure drivers are set up to succeed from day one.

*This position is onsite in Port Arthur TX.*

Key Responsibilities:

Employee Relations (Core Focus)

- Serve as the primary point of contact for driver concerns across assigned locations

- Receive, triage, and resolve issues including:

• Supervisor conflicts

• Scheduling or pay concerns (partner closely with OP’s Edi)

• Hotel/housing issues (Partnering closely with Giana and Denisha)

• Attendance and policy questions

- Conduct basic fact-finding and document all employee relations matters

- De-escalate concerns before they lead to resignations or terminations

New Hire Experience & Early Retention (0–60 Days)

- Own the driver experience during the first 30–60 days

- Conduct structured check-ins:

• Day 1 welcome connection

• Week 1 follow-up

• 30-day touchpoint

- Identify early warning signs:

• Misalignment with job expectations

• Attendance or reliability concerns

• Frustration with schedule, housing, or leadership

- Intervene early to resolve issues and improve retention

Driver Experience & Engagement

- Build trust with drivers through regular presence and accessibility

- Act as a neutral, approachable resource for employee concerns

- Identify patterns and trends across locations:

• “What’s breaking?”

• “Where are we inconsistent?”

- Provide feedback to HR and Operations to improve processes and communication

Operations & Safety Partnership

- Partner closely with Operations leaders to address employee concerns quickly

- Support consistent handling of discipline, attendance, and performance issues

- Reinforce safety expectations through employee communication and follow-up

- Ensure alignment between HR policies and day-to-day operational practices

Documentation & Compliance

- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all interactions and cases

- Ensure proper handling of employee information and confidentiality

- Support audits, reporting, and compliance-related needs as required

Qualifications

Experience

- 3+ years in Employee Relations, HR Generalist, or similar role

- Experience in high-volume, hourly workforce environments preferred

- Transportation, industrial, or safety-sensitive industry experience strongly preferred