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Career Details

13-1075.00 - Labor Relations Specialists


Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
82,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
75,600
Estimate
Change in Employment
-6,400
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-7.8%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Advise management on matters related to the administration of contracts or employee discipline or grievance procedures.
  • Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
  • Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
  • Draft rules or regulations to govern collective bargaining activities in collaboration with company, government, or employee representatives.
  • Identify alternatives to proposals of unions, employees, companies, or government agencies.
  • Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
  • Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
  • Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
  • Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements.
  • Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
  • Present the position of the company or of labor during arbitration or other labor negotiations.
  • Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
  • Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives.
  • Review and approve employee disciplinary actions, such as written reprimands, suspensions, or terminations.
  • Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
  • Schedule or coordinate the details of grievance hearings or other meetings.
  • Write letters related to labor relations activities, such as letters to amend collective bargaining agreements, letters of dispute or conciliation, or letters to seek clarification of contract terms.
  • Assess risk levels associated with collective bargaining strategies.
  • Assess the impact of union proposals on company or government operations.
  • Develop methods to monitor employee satisfaction with policies or working conditions, including grievance or complaint procedures.
  • Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
  • Provide expert testimony in legal proceedings related to labor relations or labor contracts.
  • Research case law or outcomes of previous case hearings.
  • Select mediators or arbitrators for labor disputes or contract negotiations.
  • Train managers or supervisors on topics related to labor relations, such as working conditions, safety, or equal opportunity practices.
Supplemental
  • Prepare and submit required governmental reports or forms related to labor relations matters, such as equal employment opportunity (EEO) forms, new hire forms, or minority compensation reports.
  • Prepare reports or presentations to communicate employee satisfaction or related data to management.
  • Develop employee health and safety policies.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 English Language
  • 89%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 85%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Law and Government
  • 79%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Administration and Management
  • 76%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Education and Training
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Communications and Media
  • 62%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Mathematics
  • 61%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Psychology
  • 58%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 57%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 57%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 53%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 53%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Computer printers
  • Office inkjet printers
 Duplicating machines
  • Digital copiers
  • Laser facsimile machines
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Internet Grievance System IGS
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Arbitration/Appeals Manager module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Discipline Manager module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce EEO Claims Manager module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Grievance Manager module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Incident Tracking module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Personnel Manager module
  • LaborSoft LaborForce Reporting/Dashboard Manager module
  • Micropact entellitrak Labor Relations Edition
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Product/Equipment
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Peirce College
Jobs
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Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.