Career Overview
Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Also Known As
- Business Agent
- Business Representative
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Labor Specialist
Alternate Job Titles
- Appeals and Grievances Specialist
- Arbitration Specialist
- Business Agent
- Business Representative
- Collective Bargaining Specialist
- Conciliator
- Contract Negotiator
- Employee and Labor Relations Specialist
- Employee Engagement Specialist
- Employee Experience Specialist
- Employee Relations Business Partner (ERBP)
- Employee Relations Consultant
- Employee Relations Coordinator
- Employee Relations Generalist
- Employee Relations Investigator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Personnel and Human Resources
- English Language
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Negotiation
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Persuasion
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Originality
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Self-Control
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Kubernetes
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- ServiceNow
Tools & Equipment
- Digital copiers
- Handheld calculators
- Image scanners
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Office inkjet printers
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $49,880 |
| Median | $93,500 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $153,440 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 64,590
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.