Paul Gutierrez
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Strategic HR professional with extensive experience in employee relations and multi-site workforce management. Provides expert guidance to senior leadership on performance management, workplace investigations, and compliance, ensuring effective resolution of complex employee issues. Analyzes trends to recommend proactive solutions that enhance workplace culture and mitigate organizational risk.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Employee Relations Specialist (HR Business Partner Functions)
Bryten Real Estate Partners
Phoenix, AZ
11.2023 - Current
- Provide strategic HR partnership and employee relations support for approximately 1,400 employees across 300+ properties in AZ, NM, TX, CO, GA, FL, NY, TN, KY, and NC.
- Partner directly with Vice Presidents, Asset Directors, and Community Managers to provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, workplace conflict, disciplinary actions, and organizational risk mitigation.
- Serve as a trusted HR advisor coaching leaders through corrective action, terminations, workplace accommodations, employee concerns, and sensitive workplace matters while ensuring consistency and legal compliance.
- Managed caseload of 80-90 employee relations claims and investigations monthly, addressing harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, policy violations, and employee complaints.
- Conduct and oversee complex workplace investigations, ensuring timely resolution, thorough documentation, defensible outcomes, and compliance with employment law and company policies.
- Analyzed employee relations trends and recurring workplace concerns to identify organizational risks and recommend proactive solutions, enhancing leadership effectiveness and employee experience.
- Partnered cross-functionally with HR and operational leadership to resolve escalated matters, ensuring consistent policy application across geographically dispersed teams.
- Coached an Employee Relations Specialist to maintain consistency in investigations and documentation.
Human Resources Generalist
Cobblestone Auto Spa
Scottsdale, AZ
05.2022 - 11.2023
- Partnered with employees and operational leadership on employee relations matters, workplace concerns, policy interpretation, and performance-related issues across multiple business locations.
- Administered full-cycle HR processes including onboarding, offboarding, benefits administration, FMLA, workers' compensation, employee status changes, and terminations while ensuring compliance with company policies and employment regulations.
- Provided guidance to leaders and employees regarding attendance, corrective action, workplace expectations, conflict resolution, and policy adherence.
- Conducted and supported investigations into employee concerns, workplace complaints, and policy violations, ensuring fair, consistent, and well-documented outcomes.
- Facilitated onboarding and new hire compliance processes, including In9 and EnVerify verification, ensuring smooth integration and positive experiences for new employees.
- Conducted exit interviews and analyzed employee feedback trends, identifying actionable insights to enhance retention, engagement, and workplace culture.
- Maintained confidential employee records while partnering with leadership to optimize workforce planning and streamline day-to-day HR operations.
Human Resources Generalist
Tempe Elementary School District
Tempe, AZ
08.2017 - 05.2022
- Administered workers' compensation claims, serving as the primary liaison between employees, healthcare providers, insurance carriers, and district leadership.
- Provided HR guidance to managers and employees regarding attendance, accommodations, compensation, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation.
- Supported employee relations matters and workplace concerns while ensuring compliance with district procedures and employment regulations.
- Managed payroll timekeeping functions, ensuring accurate timecard submissions and compliance with wage and hour laws, which contributed to payroll accuracy.
- Completed and maintained OSHA 300 logs, incident reporting, and compliance documentation to support workplace safety initiatives.
- Collaborated with leadership to resolve employee concerns and align workforce support with operational needs across district functions.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Buisness Administration
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NMSkills
- Employee Relations
- HR Business Partnership
- Workplace Investigations
- Employment Law Compliance
- Terminations management
- Performance Management
- Risk mitigation
- Policy Interpretation
- Leave administration
- Multi-Site Workforce Support
- Workers' Compensation
- Critical Thinking
- Leadership Coaching
- Employee Engagement
Timeline
Sr. Employee Relations Specialist (HR Business Partner Functions)
Bryten Real Estate Partners
11.2023 - Current
Human Resources Generalist
Cobblestone Auto Spa
05.2022 - 11.2023
Human Resources Generalist
Tempe Elementary School District
08.2017 - 05.2022
Some College (No Degree) - Buisness Administration
New Mexico State University