Employee Relations : Introduction

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The most important part of any business is its people. No business can run effectively without them. Employee relations are one of the key fundamental elements of organizational performance, prosperity and sustainability. Good employee relations results in highly committed, motivated and loyal employees in the organizations. Employers need to manage relationships in the workplace to keep the business functioning smoothly, avoid problems and make sure employees are performing at their best. 

  • According to Torrington and Hall (1998), the relationship between employees and management is a framework of organizational justice consisting of organizational culture and management styles as well as rules and procedural sequence for grievance and conflict management.
  •  Gennady and Judge (2002) stated that employee relations is a study of the rules, regulations and agreements by which employees are managed both as individuals and as a collective group.
  •  Lewis et al (2003) explained that employee relations suggest a wider employment canvas being covered with equal importance attached to non-union employment arrangements and white collar jobs.
  •  Armstrong (2005) observed that employee relations is to manage the relationship between employer and employees with the ultimate objectivity of achieving the optimum level of productivity in terms of goods and services, employee motivation taking preventive measures to resolve problems that adversely affect the working environment. 
  • Walton (1985) narrated that the unitary viewpoint of employee relations is the belief that management and employees share the same concerns and it is therefore in both their interests to cooperate. 
  • Perkins and Short land (2006) advocated that employee relations is concerned with the social economic relationship that forms and revolves around a contract between the parties to perform work in return for employment benefits such as remuneration. 
  • Clarke (2001) commented that effective employee relationship management requires cooperation between managers representatives and employees, that good relationship between employer and employee do not just happen but they are the result of a strategy and activities that employee relations managers design to improve communication between employees and management (Mayhew, 1985).
  • George and Jones (2008) said that employee relations involve the communication and relationships that in the end contribute to satisfactory productivity, job satisfaction, motivation and morale of the employees. 
  • Consequently, Foot and Hook (2008) highlighted that the right of employer on employer and employee relationships to control work performance, integrate employee in the organization’s structure and management system and create a mutual trust environment, confidence and supply of enough and reasonable work while employees obey lawful and reasonable orders, maintain fidelity and work with due diligence and care.
By the way, the most simplest way to express the Employee Relations is, it is the relationship between the employer and the employees in an organization. 

Why modern business world needs to concentrate more on Employee Relations?
  • Only 42% of U.S. employees look forward to coming to work, compared to 84% of those recognized by Fortune 100 as “The Best Companies to Work For.”
  • According to PwC.com 65% of employees are looking for a new job. 
  • The World Health Organization has codified a new type of health condition that threatens the health of employees. “Chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” is the WHO official diagnosis. 
  • 60% of workers report being stressed all or most of their time at worked. (Udemy)
  • 86% of millennials say they would stay in their current job if the company offered career training and development.
  • Workers who give their managers a low rating are four times more likely to be interviewing for other positions than those who don’t. (TINYPulse)

Good employer-employee relations is essential to the organization because it inspires employees to work better and produce more results. Organizations can have competent, qualified and motivated employees but if there is no peace and harmony at the workplace their performance will be in danger. Because the relationship between the employer and the employee is very crucial, employers need to pay attention to this relationship if they want their businesses to grow and succeed (Bhattacharya, 2008)

 




Reference List: 

Gennard J and Judge G (2002) Employee Relations. London: CIPD [ Accessed on 27th March 2023 ]

https://ebs.online.hw.ac.uk/EBS/media/EBS/PDFs/Employee-Relations-Course-Taster.pdf  [Accessed on 29th March 2023]

 https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/pulse-survey/future-of-work.html [Accessed on 28th March 2023]

https://www.humanresourcestoday.com/employee-relations/report/ [Accessed on 27th March 2023]

Singh, P. N. (2010). Employee Relations Management. India: Pearson India. [Accessed on 26th March 2023]

 

 

Comments

  1. Azeem HaleelApril 14, 2023 at 11:14 PM

    Employee relationship is an essential function in human resource management. Since human resource management is the who plays the mediator role between employee and employer, Employee relations will increase engagement, commitment levels and motivate employees. However, there are some drawbacks also when maintaining a good relationship with employees. For instance, it will be difficult to point out their mistakes, and it will be challenging to get the work done on time.

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