3.6.5 Making human resource decisions: improving employeremployee relations

Employee Relations

The extent to which there is a positive working relationship between the management of a business and its employees

Employee Relations aka

Industrial relations

The value of good industrial relations x2

Easier to implement change
Better employee engagement and better decisions made

Employee Involvement

The extent to which employees are involved with making strategic organisational decisions

Employee Involvement e.g. x2

Setting strategy to achieve objectives
Involvement in workforce planning

Trade Unions

Usually national organisations whose role is to represent the interests of employees in a particular industry

Trade Unions e.g. x2

National Union of Teachers (NUT)
National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

Industrial Action process x3

Advice - employment law, disputes with management
Representation - of individual employees in disputes
Negotiation - collective bargaining on behalf of all members

Industrial Action e.g. x2

Strikes
Go - slow

Industrial Action on business pros x2

Provides a means of negotiating with one representative, rather than many employees
Improves communication with workforce

Industrial Action on business cons x2

Time consuming
Impact on reputation

Industrial Action on employees pro x2

Collective bargaining is more powerful than individual bargaining
Allows experts to conduct negotiations

Industrial Action on employees cons x2

Workers on strike lose their pay
Unions can stoke tension between management and employees

Works Councils

A group made of employee and management representatives who meet regularly to discuss the day to day running of a business

Works Councils e.g. of work x2

Reviewing corporate objectives and strategies
Putting forward opinions of workforce

Works Councils effect on business pro x2

Provides a non - combative arena in which to communicate with the workforce
Allows for better communication from the workforce

Works Councils effect on business cons x2

A legal requirement - is it a 'box - ticking' exercise?
Management time

Works Councils effect on employees pro x2

Helps to understand strategic plans and objectives
Contribute to the running of the business

Works Councils effect on employees cons x2

Does not directly discuss pay or conditions
May not be fully representative if employee representatives are chosen by management

Ways to improve industrial relations x2

Use of financial and non - financial motivators
Recognition of trade unions / works councils