HR Employee Relations & Welfare Officer

Driven to create unique home-grown food concepts that bring people together, the Independent Food Company is a UAE-based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella – SALT, Parker's, Grind, Somewhere, Public, Soil and Kumo.

We are presently seeking to hire a highly qualified HR Employee Relations & Welfare Officer is responsible for fostering a positive, compliant, and engaged work environment across all restaurant outlets. This role serves as the primary liaison between Head Office HR and outlet employees, ensuring consistent communication, effective handling of employee relations matters, and alignment with company policies and culture. The role plays a key part in supporting employee welfare, managing disciplinary processes, and reinforcing operational HR excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations

Act as the main point of contact for employee relations issues across all restaurant outlets.

Provide guidance to employees and outlet managers on HR policies, conflict resolution, and workplace concerns.

Conduct investigations related to grievances, complaints, misconduct, and policy violations.

Ensure fair, timely, and compliant resolution of ER matters in accordance with labor laws and company standards.

Maintain detailed and confidential documentation of all ER cases.

Disciplinary Management

Lead and manage disciplinary processes end‑to‑end, including fact‑finding, documentation, and coordination with outlet managers.

Advise line managers on appropriate corrective actions and policy interpretation.

Ensure consistent application of disciplinary procedures across all locations.

Prepare disciplinary letters, reports, and follow-up action plans.

Employee Welfare & Engagement

Support the implementation of employee welfare initiatives, wellbeing programs, and engagement activities.

Monitor employee morale and recommend proactive measures to improve workplace satisfaction.

Oversee onboarding and induction experiences for outlet employees to ensure smooth integration.

Participate in recognition programs and employee satisfaction surveys.

Communication & Liaison Responsibilities

Serve as the communication bridge between Head Office HR and restaurant outlet teams.

Ensure outlets receive clear, timely HR policy updates, guidelines, and communications.

Collect feedback from outlets and escalate operational HR needs to the Head Office.

Support in rolling out HR initiatives, training sessions, and compliance updates.

Compliance & Reporting

Ensure adherence to UAE labor laws and company HR policies.

Maintain accurate HR records, disciplinary logs, and ER case files.

Prepare regular reports on ER trends, disciplinary actions, and welfare initiatives.

Support audits and compliance checks as required.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.

3+ years of experience in HR, preferably in hospitality, F&B, or multi‑site operational environments.

Strong understanding of UAE labor law and HR best practices.

Experience handling ER cases and disciplinary processes is essential.

Skills & Competencies

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Strong conflict resolution and problem‑solving abilities.

High level of empathy, professionalism, and confidentiality.

Ability to manage multiple outlets and prioritize tasks effectively.

Strong reporting, documentation, and administrative skills.

Proficiency in MS Office and HRIS platforms.

Working Conditions

Based at Head Office with frequent visits to restaurant outlets.

Flexible to support operational requirements including occasional weekend or off‑hour needs.