Senior Manager - Employee Relations

The Freshworks People team shapes experiences that maximize the potential of our people. Based in San Mateo (HQ), this Senior Manager, Employee Relations role is a key member of our global ER leadership team, owning the employee relations agenda across the United States and Europe. You will co-create ER strategy alongside our global ER leadership, bringing a unique lens and deep cross-cultural fluency to how we build a high-trust, high-performance culture. We are re-imagining Employee Relations for today’s world — how we handle workplace conflicts, how we take a more proactive, data-driven approach to organisational health, and how we teach employees to share diverse points of view with respect. At Freshworks, we believe we are stronger together.

Responsibilities

Co-create ER strategy with the global ER leadership team, ensuring alignment and consistency across the US and other regions; Own the day-to-day ER agenda for Europe and the United States — from complex case management to coaching managers and HR Business Partners on handling workplace issues with confidence and consistency; Build capability across the broader People organization on conflict resolution, mediation, restorative justice, and bias-aware decision-making; Partner with the global ER team to re-imagine how we address performance concerns, involuntary exits, and organisational changes — grounded in principle, designed for people, and executed with operational excellence; Serve as a trusted expert on organizational health issues: gaps in belonging and trust, manager-employee conflicts, and behaviours that do not align to Freshworks’ values or DEI commitments; Ensure governance and compliance with employment policies and practices across the US and Europe, including interpretation and application of relevant laws, regulations, and corporate policy; Work closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Development, Total Rewards, and Legal to deliver coordinated, seamless support on ER matters; Drive accountability through strong case management practices, meaningful metrics, and a continuous improvement mindset; Partner with Legal to navigate works councils, trade unions, and local consultation requirements in European markets

Requirements

BS/BA degree required; 7+ years of relevant experience in employee relations, workplace conflict, and performance management with meaningful exposure to both European and US employment environments; Proven experience operating as an ER practitioner at a senior level; Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and inspire talent; experience managing or mentoring ER team members or HR colleagues; Fresh, innovative, and data-driven thinking applied to complex, long-standing ER challenges with a growth mindset and a track record of high-impact outcomes; Strong business and people acumen with excellent consulting, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills across diverse cultural contexts; In-depth understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and their application to employee relations practice; Proficient in US employment law (ADA, ADEA, FMLA); Collaborative, influential, and decisive; Comfort with HR technology and case management tools (e.g. Salesforce, ServiceNow, Smartsheet); Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field required; 8+ years of progressive, direct experience in Employee Relations, Workplace Investigations, and Performance Management including at least 3+ years in a senior/lead capacity within a fast-paced, matrixed tech company or enterprise software environment; Hands-on operational experience managing ER matters across both US and European jurisdictions (specifically UK, Germany, France, or Netherlands); Deep expertise in US federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (including FMLA, ADA/ADAAA, ADEA, Title VII, FLSA, FEHA, and state-specific leave/separation mandates); Working knowledge of European employment legislation, GDPR compliance as applied to workplace investigations, and practical experience navigating European Works Councils (EWCs), trade unions, and local statutory consultation processes; Proven track record of independently conducting, managing, and documenting complex, high-risk workplace investigations (e.g., harassment, discrimination, executive-level misconduct, retaliation) with discretion and objectivity; Demonstrated ability to analyze ER trends, case metrics, and workplace data to proactively identify root causes and recommend systemic solutions; Strong track record of coaching HR Business Partners (HRBPs) and managers on conflict resolution, mediation, restorative justice, and bias-aware decision-making; Outstanding consulting, negotiation, and conflict management skills with a proven ability to challenge, advise, and partner effectively with cross-functional partners (Legal, DEI, Total Rewards, Business Leaders) at all levels of the organization

Nice to have

JD or advanced HR qualification; Knowledge of UK and European employment law (including but not limited to GDPR, works council obligations, and country-specific labour laws across the EU); Knowledge of additional markets (Canada, India, Israel, Australia); JD, Master’s in HR/Labor Relations, or advanced HR certifications (e.g., SPHR, SHRM-SCP)

Benefits

Bonus compensation; Equity; Inclusive teams; Opportunities to grow your career