Employee Relations Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Who We Are:

Our mission is to be Chicagoland’s premier gaming and entertainment destination, celebrated for unparalleled hospitality and an unforgettable guest experience. We’re not just a casino—we’re a community where our team members thrive, with countless opportunities for career growth and a workplace culture centered on inclusivity and fun. As we continue to elevate our standards of excellence, we seek dynamic, coachable individuals who are passionate about hospitality and eager to grow with us. At American Place Casino, every moment is crafted to delight, every opportunity is a pathway to success.

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a driven, hardworking, and highly-motivated Employee Relations Manager to join our team at American Place Casino. This role owns employee relations property-wide all in service of a positive, respectful, and productive work environment. Reporting to the Director of HR, this role partners closely with the HR Manager, Talent Acquisition Manager, and Payroll & Benefits Manager, as well as Security and Risk Management, to ensure a consistent, compliant, and well-supported team member experience.

What is Expected of You:

• Manage, mentor, and lead the Employee Relations Generalist team
• Champion a fair, respectful, and positive workplace culture through consistent, transparent handling of employee relations matters
• Serve as primary intake for workplace concerns, ensuring timely, thorough, and legally compliant investigation and resolution
• Conduct investigations into team member incidents and concerns, and make recommendations for corrective action
• Own case documentation and status tracking for investigations, disciplinary actions, leaves, and suspensions, ensuring accurate, audit-ready recordkeeping
• Report significant events and resolution efforts to the Director of HR, and recommend policy or process updates based on case trends and legal/regulatory changes
• Partner with leaders on performance management issues; train and coach managers on progressive discipline, documentation standards, and ER best practices
• Review documentation and ensure consistent, fair application of policy across disciplinary and separation decisions
• Audit HR policy administration for compliance with labor law and ER standards
• Own the exit interview process, analyzing separation data for trends and recommendations
• Monitor turnover from an ER lens, identifying patterns tied to separations, performance, or workplace concerns
• Manage all IDES unemployment claim activity, including claim processing, appeals, and hearings, ensuring timely and accurate responses at every stage
• Record and monitor FMLA/LOA/STD requests and status, coordinating with managers and Payroll on wage continuation
• Manage the ADA accommodation process, including interactive discussions with team members and feasibility coordination with managers
• Process workers’ compensation and short-term disability claims and partner with Risk Management and Security on work restrictions and temporary assignments
• Ensure department compliance with all regulatory, departmental, and company policies
• Report ER metrics (case volume, case types, time-to-resolution, separation trends, turnover) to the Director of HR
• Other projects and tasks as assigned to help meet the goals of the company

Experience You Will Need:

• 2–5 years of progressive employee relations experience, preferably in a casino environment, including experience leading or mentoring a team; 5+ years of HR or related experience required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources or a related field from an accredited four-year college or university preferred

• Experience managing ADA accommodation processes and workplace investigations

• Thorough knowledge of labor law (FMLA, ADA, workers' comp); skilled in conflict mediation and investigations

• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred

• Proficient in HR systems (UKG a plus)

• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills; able to resolve problems diplomatically and tactfully

• Organized, with strong documentation and case-tracking discipline

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism

• Flexibility with work schedule required, including evenings/weekends/holidays for time-sensitive investigations

• Bilingual a plus

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently sit, use close/computer vision, and perform repetitive hand/wrist motion
• Frequently speak, hear, read, and write to communicate with team members, leadership, and candidates
• Frequently stand and walk throughout the property or recruitment events
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull up to 25 lbs.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Able to obtain/maintain necessary licenses and/or certifications as required by local gaming regulations.

Benefits/Perks:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401K: Matches 50% of your contribution, up to 4% of eligible contribution
• Educational Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Time Off
• Ventra Program, EAP programs, etc.

Salary Range:

• $85,000-$135,000

Company Statement on EOAA:

American Place Casino is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.