Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Caitlin Shyam

Botany,NSW

Summary

A senior human resources professional with a strong background in employment law and employee/industrial relations. I have over 10 years’ experience as a professional who combines HR expertise, employment law and business acumen to provide strategic guidance to the business on all aspects of the employee life cycle including HR strategy, recruitment, retention, performance management, engagement, succession planning and learning and development. I am adept at engaging stakeholders across all levels of the business, including with white and blue collar workforces. I have a friendly, collaborative, values-driven approach to driving innovation and success in teams.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

People & Culture Business Partner

Motorserve (Subsidiary of IAG Insurance)
05.2021 - Current

Motorserve is a leading car servicing, repairer and insurance assessment service for motor claims for IAG insurance brands. Motorserve was formerly part of NRMA and acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary of IAG Australia in 2020. Currently Motorserve is operating across 55 sites in NSW, VIC, QLD and ACT. Reporting to the Head of People, Culture and Safety, my role is the sole People & Culture Business Partner to Motorserve’s 600 employees. Key responsibilities include:

  • Being a strategic partner to leaders and teams, collaborating on the development and execution of people strategies aligned with business objectives.
  • Spearheading various HR initiatives such as performance reviews, engagement surveys and action plans, succession planning, remuneration reviews, and reward and recognition programs.
  • Leading end-to-end case management including performance management, grievance handling, complex conduct and performance issues, mediation and conflict resolution, and mentoring HR Advisors in case management.
  • Representing Motorserve before the Fair Work Commission and AHRC in unfair dismissal, discrimination and general protections claims.
  • Leadership of three direct reports - HR Advisor, HR Coordinator, and Learning and Development Coordinator. Indirect leader of talent acquisition and payroll functions.
  • Developing HR policies and procedures, ensuring legislative compliance and best practice.
  • Leading HR projects from conception to implementation, including leadership development programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and the establishment of HR systems and processes.
  • Return to work coordination for workers compensation claims.
  • Developing employee benefits suite.
  • Guiding the organisation through major workforce changes with effective change management strategies.
  • Serving as a cultural ambassador, embodying and promoting Motorserve's values throughout the business.

Human Resources Specialist

Page Group (Michael Page)
10.2018 - 05.2021

Page Group is a global recruitment company comprising of Michael Page, Page Personnel and Page Executive brands. Working within the Australian HR team, I was the sole employee/industrial relations business partner supporting 400 direct employees and approximately 5000 casual labour hire contractors. Key responsibilities included:

  • Interpreting industrial instruments and employment laws and providing associated advice, reports and training as required.
  • Providing advice that is accurate, aligned culturally and strategically on EAs, Awards, the National Employment Standards and the Fair Work Act to minimise legal exposure and to ensure the compliant discharge of employer obligations to direct and external employees.
  • Proactively coaching senior leaders and providing strategic solutions on complex people management issues throughout the employee lifecycle including terms and conditions of employment, employer obligations, restructures, change, employee wellbeing, succession planning and widespread capability building.
  • Leading disciplinary matters including workplace misconduct, discrimination, harassment, bullying and complex performance management matters.
  • Support wider team in HR initiatives including performance reviews, diversity and inclusion initiatives, employee engagement and rewards and benefits.
  • Assisting in the bids and tendering process to ensure the preferred supplier agreement with external clients contains compliant employment conditions in the provision of contractual labour.
  • Provision of training to empower employer obligations knowledge within the business.
  • Management of workers' compensation claims including return to work coordination, liaison with the regulator, insurers and work health and safety partners.

Employee Relations Specialist

CHEP Australia
Contract Role
06.2018 - 10.2018

CHEP is an international supply chain company involved in the equipment pooling of pallets and containers. I was the sole Employee Relations Specialist to CHEP Australia’s 1800 employees. Key responsibilities included:

  • Advising and coaching leaders regarding performance management, grievance handling, industrial action and employee discipline.
  • Interpretation of industrial instruments such as Enterprise Agreements, Modern Awards, employment laws, or company policy in making recommendations for the correct course forward.
  • Undertaking workplace investigations regarding grievances, safety breaches, performance related concerns, workplace injuries and absenteeism issues.
  • Facilitating training courses for business leaders regarding appropriate people management skills.
  • Leading disciplinary procedures with employees.
  • Drafting and reviewing established HR policies and updating in line with legislative updates and best practice.
  • Assisting with enterprise bargaining and EA negotiations with the Fair Work Commission, unions and relevant tribunals.

· Researching industrial case law and developments in Australian employment law to maintain current, up to date knowledge.

Lawyer

Bannister Law
09.2017 - 06.2018

Bannister Law is a class action law firm running some of Australia’s largest consumer and shareholder class actions. Key responsibilities included:

  • Providing assistance to senior solicitors and barristers with complex civil litigation in the Federal and Supreme Court of Australia.
  • Assisting counsel with research on topics such as quantum of loss and damages and misleading and deceptive conduct under the Australian Consumer Law.
  • Drafting of affidavits, statements of claim, subpoenas and pleadings.
  • Processing and analysing voluminous amounts of documents received during discovery.
  • Assistance in drafting expert reports to be used in Court as evidence.
  • Providing advice to clients regarding strength of their claim, third party litigation funding, benefits of signing a retainer and becoming a client with Bannister Law, and options going forth with their claim.
  • Answering incoming enquiries from members of the class action regarding costs, eligibility, damages, and general queries about running of litigation and court processes.
  • Preparing briefs to counsel.
  • Preparation of court books.

Lawyer

Weighbridge Lawyers
12.2016 - 09.2017

Weighbridge Lawyers is a general practice law firm specialising in employment law, immigration law, commercial debt recovery, family law, commercial law, criminal law and property law. Key responsibilities included:

  • Acting for employers in unfair dismissal and general protections conciliations, discrimination claims (through the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Fair Work Commission and state tribunals), EA negotiations and providing advisory support in the areas of award/agreement interpretation, Fair Work Act compliance and managing underperformance or incapacity for work.
  • Preparing court correspondence documents such as a statement of claim and notices of intention to cease to act.
  • Drafting submissions and relevant forms for immigration matters and lodging them with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Courts.
  • Preparing briefs for counsel.
  • Assisting principal solicitor and senior solicitors at Local and Supreme Court hearings.
  • Performing legal research on a variety of areas of law such as employment law, skilled immigration requirements, visa subclasses, conveyancing, criminal assault charges and traffic offences, as well as procedures in the small claims division.

Employee Relations Advisor

ER Strategies
12.2014 - 12.2016

ER Strategies is a HR consulting firm providing advice and services to clients in the financial services, fast food, FMCG and franchising industries. Key responsibilities included:

  • Being the first point of contact for incoming client queries and provision of practical employee relations advice to clients.
  • Strong focus on interpretation of various Modern Awards across different industries, Enterprise Agreements and case law to advise clients on the correct course forward.
  • Leading unfair dismissal conciliations with the Fair Work Commission.
  • Writing EAs and preparing correspondence in the bargaining process with the Fair Work Commission.
  • Researching employment issues with particular reference to the Fair Work Act.
  • Provision of critical advice to clients undergoing Fair Work Ombudsman investigations.
  • Drafting employment contracts and policies.
  • Completing payroll audits of major franchises.
  • Publishing numerous articles for the company’s website on various legal updates in the field and other employer obligations topics.
  • Facilitating training courses to a number of clients on topics such as workplace investigations and employee counseling and discipline.
  • Researching relevant case law and legislation.
  • Developing client relationships.

Education

Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice -

College of Law
St Leonards, NSW
01-2017

Bachelor of Laws -

Western Sydney University
Parramatta, NSW
01-2017

Bachelor of Business/Commerce (Human Resource Management And Industrial Relations -

Western Sydney University
Parramatta, NSW
01-2014

Admitted as a Solicitor -

Supreme Court of New South Wales

Return To Work Coordination Certificate -

Workplace Injury Management

Skills

  • HR strategy
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Organisational development
  • Employee and Industrial Relations
  • Performance management
  • Conflict resolution and mediation
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Learning and Development
  • Employee engagement
  • Change management
  • Leadership development
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Succession development
  • Payroll coordination
  • HR policies, procedures and contracts
  • Rewards and Recognition
  • Remuneration reviews
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

People & Culture Business Partner

Motorserve (Subsidiary of IAG Insurance)
05.2021 - Current

Human Resources Specialist

Page Group (Michael Page)
10.2018 - 05.2021

Employee Relations Specialist

CHEP Australia
06.2018 - 10.2018

Lawyer

Bannister Law
09.2017 - 06.2018

Lawyer

Weighbridge Lawyers
12.2016 - 09.2017

Employee Relations Advisor

ER Strategies
12.2014 - 12.2016

Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice -

College of Law

Bachelor of Laws -

Western Sydney University

Bachelor of Business/Commerce (Human Resource Management And Industrial Relations -

Western Sydney University

Admitted as a Solicitor -

Supreme Court of New South Wales

Return To Work Coordination Certificate -

Workplace Injury Management
Caitlin Shyam