Comprehensive Report: Employee Relations at British Airways

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employee relations at British Airways. It begins by exploring various frameworks for managing employee relations, including unitary and pluralistic approaches, and examines how changes in trade unionism have affected these relationships. The report then delves into the roles of key players in employment relations, such as workers, managers, and trade unions. It also investigates the processes used by British Airways to handle conflicts, including collaboration and compromise, and highlights key features of employee relations during conflict situations, such as mediation and communication. Furthermore, the report discusses the role of negotiation in collective bargaining and its impact on specific situations. Finally, it assesses the impact of the EU on industrial democracy in the UK and explores methods for gaining employee engagement in decision-making processes, concluding with the influence of human resource management approaches on employee relations.

Employee Relation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Various framework of references for managing employee relation......................................1
1.2 Changes affected the employees relation..............................................................................2
1.3 Role of key players in employment relations........................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Process followed by organisation while dealing in different conflicts.................................4
2.2 Key features of employee relation for different conflicts situations.....................................5
2.3 Effectiveness process followed in solving issues..................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective bargaining.........................................................................7
3.2 Impact of negotiation strategy for given situation................................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Impact of EU on industrial democracy in UK......................................................................9
4.2 Different methods for gaining employee engagement in decision making process............10
4.3 Impact of human resource management approach on employee relation...........................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Employee relation refers to that relationship which has been developed between
employee for reaching desired goals and objectives in proper manner. It is the duty of
management is to ensure positive relationship between employee so that good working
environment should be created within an organisation. Basically, it is the main responsibility of
human resource department is to maintain all functions and activities of these sectors and also
related with employee relation in the firm (Atkinson and Hall, 2011). There are different
conflicts situations which increasing due to understand various matters that will create negative
relationship among each and every employee within an organisation. Several other methods
which are used for solving different types of issues and problems that includes involvement,
participation, cooperation etc. the report is based on British Airways which is situated in UK.
The main motive of this report is to explain different frameworks such as pluralistic and unitary
framing of remark. Along with this, there are different process which has been discussed in this
project and also used for dealing with struggling situations. Also the impact of European union
on industrial democracy in the UK which is described.
TASK 1
1.1 Various framework of references for managing employee relation
It is essential for maintaining healthy relationship among employees which help in
accomplishing desired goals and objectives in given time period. British airways also adopt
various theories and concepts for managing and controlling sound relation with company HR
manager that are as under:
 Unitary approach- This is that form of approach which suggest the employees to work
together for democratic goals and aims. All the workers will provide equal contribution
for reaching the great ambitions and this is the job management to evaluate the efficiency
of teams for achieving required targets and goals (Bach and Kessler, 2011). The unitary
frames of references effectively reduces the possibility for making uncertainty or
mistaking because all the employees are necessary to share equal exercise and concepts
for finishing the required work. The mission of British airways is to offer their travellers
in effective manner so that employee's can improve their experience quality in proper
manner. This is necessary for human resource manager is to provide training and
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development sessions to their employees for increasing their skills and knowledge which
help in performing good task within an organisation.
 Pluralistic approach- It is that framework of references which majorly includes two or
more teams or groups that mainly present in the firm and where all the people interests
are totally different from other person (D'Cruz and Noronha, 2011). These teams and sub
groups includes administration, trade union etc. which exist within an enterprise. In an
organisation, the trade union unite are play a crucial role in British airlines for developing
relation with employee as well as management in effective manner. The issues and
problems which are faced by employees are discussed or communicated with the trade
union correspondents to the company managers of firm. It is the duty of manager is to
discuss about particular issue and problem with UNITE representatives for eliminating
the misinterpretation in proper manner. As per the outcome, employees are motivated for
their work through convened by company managers.
1.2 Changes affected the employees relation
Alteration occurs in the trade unionism which is directly affects the employees
relationship. Trade union defines the workers society and union leaders that united together for
measuring and encouraging their common interest that includes enhancing their salary package ,
other profits are given and maintain working environment. Trade union established in the year of
1824 and in this year various human resource manager are present within an enterprise and
joined their corporation for getting desired goals at the appropriate salary. These are must be
based on their skills and abilities in the venture. There are different alteration which identified
because it will create great impact on employee relation within the British airways. These
modifications are occurs at the time of fluctuation in the extrinsic environmental elements that
are as follows: Political and legal factor- A new enforcement laws and rules within country economy is
directly affect different factors which mainly connected with worker relation in the
British airways (Do Paco and Cláudia Nave, 2013). For example, there are various plans
and policies which are made by legal bodies for providing equal opportunities to each
employee within an organisation. This is that condition which arise different type of
conflicts which increasing among employee and employer. It is that kind of conflicts
situations which emerges at the time of firm does not collected with various policies and
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plans which are made by authorities of UK. According to this outcome, the conflict
relation among enterprise and trade union can be poorly affected.
 Technological factor- This is stated that an organisation will launch new and latest
technology in their work place by this they can satisfy all demand and wants of their
employees in proper manner (Gupta and Kumar, 2012). British airways will promote for
complying different practices which are connected employees retrenchment. In this
condition, trade union play an important role for defending and on the other hand, union
help and protect employees who works within an organisation which has been states the
retrenched to the job. These kind of situations are prevent the relation among venture and
unions.
1.3 Role of key players in employment relations
There are some essential persons which are play an important role for conducting
business operations and functions. Certain roles of these key players mainly deal with employee
relation which are as under: Workers- In every organisation, an employee will work for accomplishing desired goals
and objectives so that they can get success in appropriate manner. They will work
together for achieving common goals with their personal targets. Along with this, they try
to solve major issues and problems which occurs at the time production. They work for
eliminating arising conflicts that are come occurs in the future time period. They required
to develop peaceful working environment for their employees. Government authorities- These are such type of associations which should be created
and imposed major rules and norms which assist in changing employee relation among
worker and management (Kazlauskaite, Buciuniene and Turauskas, 2011). Apart from
this, they should also supervise all activities and functions of trade union so that it will
help in easily to take accurate decision for the firm. Managers- They are main part of an organisation who will manage and control all
necessary functions and activities in effective manner. If they are develop harmony in the
firm so that they should not bias among their employees. In an enterprise, there is no
superiority complex are shown in the manager so that it will adversely affect on the
relation of employees with them. Management will develop competition environment
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among workers but still it should be in a healthy manner and does not increase conflicts
situations. Employer association- They are those groups and teams which directly represent, protect
and give advice to their managers which will assist in building strong position in the large
society. Such groups are totally different from trade union so that they required to
manage and take care of whole organisation (Kim, Park and Wier, 2012). The main
motive of this teams is to deal with various issues and problems of employees that will
help in knowing their perspectives. Also they try to develop positive and healthy
relationship among employee and employers.
 Trade union- The groups are also known as people who work together for reaching
desired goals and objectives. UNITE is that trade union which works for British airways
and also do communication with large organisation for resolving different issues and
problems which are faced by employees. Along with this, encouragement and motivation
will help them for gaining accurate result for the setting goals and targets in proper
manner.
Illustration 1: Role of key players in industrial relation, 2017
(Source: Role of key players in industrial relation, 2017)
TASK 2
2.1 Process followed by organisation while dealing in different conflicts
There are various conflicts which mainly emerges from the misinterpretations that will
creates negative relation with employee and manager of the firm. Conflict condition are
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discovered in British airways which are cut the job by the management (Meisler, 2014). With
these activities, employees are demotivate and provide them low efforts which outcomes are
directly affects the productivity of association. With the help of dealing in these type of situation,
British airways has to be taken following steps that are as under: Collaboration- Every organisation has to take chance for doing collaboration. Company
managers are arrange certain meeting where all UNITE representatives and employees
will share their views and feedbacks in effective manner. Corporation mainly focus on
those feedbacks and try to resolve these situations properly. Company manager also try to
convince employees and their representatives for these steps so that they can corporate
with emergency situations.
 Compromise- It is that concept which help in resolving struggles and battle situations
within an organisation. Company manager give certain reason for additional working
hours or cut job within British airways and all the employees are present their opinions
which is based on contracts. In such type of condition, management can compromise in
these acts and human resource manager should contribute various growing corporation
that are present results which assist in increasing opportunities of growth and
development.
2.2 Key features of employee relation for different conflicts situations
Industrial relation are important for effective working within an organisation. This is
necessary for firm is to make improvement activities and functions in the peaceful working
environment (Osman-Gani, Hashim and Ismail, 2013). There are various conflicts which occurs
in the company by which they can easily resolve all the issues or problems in minimum time
period. It is essential for maintaining trust among employees at the time of improving
relationship and production activities. British airways managers mainly focus on productivity of
an enterprise so that they annual turnover and market share are increasing day by day. In an
organisation, a conflictual situation are occurs so that employee are doing over time without
getting any payment. There are different which used by corporation for maintaining good
employee relation which are as follows: Meditation- This approach of meditation can be used for solving different issues and
disputes in proper manner. Company managers are developing arrangement activities
where trade union will present for solving different problems. It is that meetings where
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all the parties are participated and also gives their views and reviews in clear manner. At
the end of this discussion, all the parties end the meeting on some conclusion and take
one point which is beneficial for them. Communication- British airways are develop clear and simple understanding
communication which are carried among employees and management (Poor and et. al.,
2011). All these activities are reduces the misinterpretation of struggle situations. For
understanding dispute reason, it is necessary for firm is to collect feedbacks and reviews
of all the employees properly. Misunderstanding are occurs by uncleared communication
which should be discussed effectively. Along with this, managers should provide all laws
and norms information among their employees within an organisation.
 Trust- It is very essential for firm is to build trust among employees and management so
that this will create more confidence with them for deal in settle all conflicts and issues in
appropriate manner. Human resource manager should trust for their employees which
help them in performing best work at the time of manufacturing.
2.3 Effectiveness process followed in solving issues
This is the first stage of discussion which is not effective in the case of British airlines so
that both the parties are not prepared for doing compromise. The attitude of association are very
high because the required result are not accomplished by firm in any manner. Ego factors are
exist among all the staff members which has been shown by their statements (Robertson, Gockel
and Brauner, 2012). The CEO of British airline company are Willie Walsh are declared that
strikes done by cabin unit was the largest failure of management because this will seen the
incapability of organisation for not transferring almost 72000 passengers in a day. He also
disregard this report which are given by secretary of the unite Tony Woodley.
Another is second stage of negotiation, which are more impressive and effective for settle
long conflicts in easy manner. There are various members who are exist in the parties they can
share their views and opinions and prepared for doing compromise activities that will help in
solving disputes by which effective communication and compromise are end. Currently both the
parties are concentrate on business growing activities of the airways by which they can gain
future growth opportunities. Hence, it will states that compromise is the biggest conflicts towards
an end.
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TASK 3
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective bargaining
Collective bargaining can be defined as that procedure in which a group or team of
employees are used for carry out different activities and functions of negotiation with the
company managers in regards to the business (Schmidt, Trittel and Müller, 2011). Therefore,
collective bargaining gives that way which help in providing sound communication that can be
done among employers and employees within an organisation. This is also states that conflicts
and disputes are solved with the use of this approach. The significance of collective bargaining
that can be evaluated in the follows:
 This will assist in maintaining required power among employee so that they can build
strong position in the firm.
 With the use of bargaining, the effective and good communication activities are change
the working scenario and also create it better in making accurate relation.
 It will help in motivating the values of workers and by this their annual turnover rate is
increasing day by day.
 The self preservation assist human resource manager for build more opportunities
regarding accomplishing setting goals and objectives of an enterprise.
Along with this, there are various rules and regulations of negotiation which are exist for
conducting collective bargaining that are discussed as follows: Discussion help in rising the effectiveness of aggregate bargaining procedure- The
main motive of collective bargaining process is to solve all required conflicts that mainly
arising among employees and managers (Suliman and Al Kathairi, 2012). With the use of
this procedures, firm manager can easily evaluate their personnel regarding reason behind
different kinds of plans and policies which are implemented within an organisation.
Management also organise meetings where they can discuss about inappropriate
allotment of task.
 Negotiation assist firm in term of achieving effective judgement- In this context,
employees representatives are bargaining with the firm managers and their main purpose
is to solve major issues or problems which occurs within an enterprise. Negotiation
process assist employees for carry out sound communication with the upper
administration of British airways and also know their views or opinions.
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3.2 Impact of negotiation strategy for given situation
Strategy of negotiation is usually act with all the parties members which are related to
conflicts. There are different types of strategies which can be used in negotiation activity that are
described as follows: Competitive strategy- This is that plan which is aligned with that procedure of acquiring
where message are move forward to the skilled command members (Tansel and
Gazîoğlu, 2014). Completion of negotiation process by the government along with all the
staff members of bidders and on the other hand, selection is one of the major factor which
assist in increasing values. It is that strategy which can not proved to be useful for the
conflictual situations which arising in the British airways. Management of this entity are
mainly cut the job of their employees by this they can enhanced their business groups
strengths. It will develop disagreement with the union which is unite within an
organisation.
 Corporative strategy- Business strategies are used in negotiation process and there is
large existence of high range of coordination among these parties. These are always
based on making effective strategies which help in increasing organisation productivity
and profitability in proper manner. There are large conflicts among employees of British
airlines and corporation in circumstance of job cuts judgement. Basically, some strikes
are shown that will reduces the turn over of business of an enterprise by approx. 15%.
corporation strategy will assist in enforced both the parties by this they can easily settle
don all the required conflicts and disputes in effective manner. It will established to be
appropriate type of conflictual situations that will given notice to the British airways firm.
This can be famed that coordination of these parties should be given in order to removing
all kind of disputes in an effectively (Upchurch and Marinković, 2011). Collaboration
strategy of the negotiation have permission for sharing required data and information of
both the parties that will assist in deal in only one side. The major part is the resolution
which mainly focus on developing activities and functions that will applied association
based strategy in appropriate manner. Corporation which has been reached from UNITE
members and British airlines team management will help in resolving major issue or
problems properly. This will assist in removing and eliminating all occurring barriers and
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conflicts within an organisation as well as employees. It can stated that it is most
effective negotiating strategy of the firm.
TASK 4
4.1 Impact of EU on industrial democracy in UK
European union is greatly influencing the industrial democracy in the United kingdom.
This is that union where more than 28 nations members are participated (Gupta and Kumar,
2012). The main purpose of this is to develop single market place. There are various members
who are exist in this union for provide different type of facilities and incentives in proper
manner. For the maintaining of each and every member power it will play an important role
among huge number of organisation. The present union are provide power to members in 28
countries is to done their work in free way without facing any type of barrier and conflicts. This
will states by industrial democracy that all the employees are considered as partners of the
association. They also work for enhancing their empowerment by taking part in making accurate
decisions for the benefit to the organisation. There are certain methods and techniques which
majorly involved in this industrial democracy such as suggestions, combined administration
assembly, business commission etc. As per this, workers has legal right by which they indirectly
taken part in the decision making process and sending their assistant on place of them. This has
been stated that the employees participation are taking power to build strong relationship among
employers as well as employees for maintaining business operations and its functions. All these
contribution are goes in the hand of European Unions.
EU also permitted for taking actions and acts for the appropriate requirements and rights
at the working place within an organisation (Syed and Ali, 2010). When few staff members are
not gaining their required fundamental rights which are basically linked with different working
situations and then they can also increase their voice in front of the firm. They also like and
discuss about the pattern of doing effective marketing communication along with the necessary
process of business which is situated at UK. There are some of the major impacts of EU on
industrial democracy that are as follows:
 Those members who are exist in the organisation are helpful to each other.
 Main responsibilities are share ideas and thoughts among their members who always
present in 28 nations.
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