Employee Relations of ALDI

Employee Relations

CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Unitary and pluralistic frames...............................................................................................1
1.2 Changes in trade unionism affected employee relations.......................................................2
1.3 Role of main players in employee relations..........................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Process which an enterprise should follow when dealing with conflicts..............................4
2.2 Key features in employee relations in a situation of conflict................................................5
2.3 Effectiveness of procedures used in a selected conflict situation..........................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective Bargaining.........................................................................6
3.2 Impact of negotiation strategy for a given situation..............................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Influence of the EU on industrial democracy in the UK...........................................................8
4.2 Methods used to gain employee participation and involvement in the decision making
process.........................................................................................................................................9
4.3 Impact of human resource management on employee relations............................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Employee relations is known as one of the most crucial and important element of every
enterprise as this results in effective communication among various departments of
enterprise and at the same time improve employees performance (Larson, 2017). It is very
important for employer of every enterprise to create and maintain good relations with
workers as this provide various benefits to company. For this, it is very important that there
must be a effective communication channel at workplace so company can execute all
business activities in an effective manner. Basically, this concept is related with gaining
workers commitment so company can achieve its set goals and objectives. ALDI, a leading
and popular retailer having more than 10000 stores 18 countries is taken under this report for
study. Various approaches of employee relations such as unitary and pluralistic are all
mentioned in this report. Variations in trade unions and impact of this employee relations is
also given under this. Further, individuals who play a main role in employee relations and a
step by step procedure which company can follow in order to handle the situations of
conflicts is also detailed in this. Along with this, key features of employee relations and
impact on negotiation strategy is also described.
TASK 1
1.1 Unitary and pluralistic frames
It comes under one of the main responsibility of manager of every enterprise to create and
maintain good relations with customers. For achieve the same, different methods are there which
can be use by the managers of ALDI such as unitary and pluralistic Both these approaches are
depend on different thoughts and views but the main focus of both approaches is to develop good
relations between employees and employers of a company.
In context of unitary approach of employee relations indicate that, power relies in the hand
of individuals who work at managerial level of company. However, responsibility remain in the
hand of senior managers of ALDI and employees are not allowed to participate in strategic
affairs of a company (Fu and et. al., 2015). Further, this approach help in maintain in uniformity
of direction as in this, only a single individual remain liable to take decisions regarding all
activities and all this help in maintain the relation in an professional way. This also promote and
encourage loyalty as well as commitment of employees which provide variety of benefits to
1

company. Along with this, this approach of employee relations is based on the assumption that
conflicts between employers and employees of ALDI can be avoided.
Pluralistic approach of employee relations focus on the belief that workforce of an
enterprise is developed through different behaviours, attitudes and beliefs of workers (Casimir
and et. at., 2012). In this approach, trade unions play a significant role and take decisions in
favour of workers in order to encourage them and to satisfy their needs. Further, as per this
approach, it is very essential to carry out negotiations so workers can feel their value and
importance and values towards the organisation.
Overall, there are two approaches which can be used by the managers of ALDI in order
to create and maintain good relations with its employees and stakeholders and at the same time to
execute business activities of firm in an efficient and effective manner.
1.2 Changes in trade unionism affected employee relations
Changes in trade union directly affect the employees relations in a company. Basically
trade is a group of individuals and leaders that work together with the aim of providing safe and
healthy working environment to employees so they can perform in an effective manner. Further,
trade unions ensure and promote common interest of staff members with various monetary and
non monetary benefits (Schlechter, Thompson and Bussin, 2015). First union movement was
carried out in nineteenth century with different models of unions. This came into existence in
1824 with particular legislations under which different employees joined the association in order
to get the fair wages for the work they do in enterprise. Workers understood that trade unions are
totally against the exploitations of employees and the main aim of this is to provide benefits to
workers. Main changes in trade unions that affect the employee relations in ALDI are as
follows:
 Technological: Various developments in technology encourage the firm to reduce the
labour which adversely affect the employment of individuals(Bedo, Z., Demirbag and
Wood, 2011). In this, ALDI amend with the legislations and regulations related with the
retrenchment of manpower. In some situations trade unions of ALDI act as a shield and
protect them from being retrenched. Further, various technological advancements guide
ALDI in enhance its business activities but at the cost of employee relations.
 Political and legal: Political and legal are the two significant factors that affect various
elements related with employee relations in ALDI. Top managers of enterprise remain
2