Employee Relations in Workplace : Assignment

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Unitary and pluralistic frame of reference........................................................................1
1.2 Amendments in trade unionism have affected trade unionism........................................2
1.3 Role of main players in employee relations.....................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Process used to deal with conflict situation......................................................................5
2.2 Features of employee relations to deal with conflict situation.........................................6
2.3 Effectiveness of procedures used in selected conflict situation......................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective bargaining....................................................................7
3.2 Impact of strategy in collective bargaining......................................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Influence of European union on industrial democracy....................................................9
4.2 Methods and techniques used to gain participation of employees. ...............................10
4.3 Major impact of human resource department on employee relations............................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Employee relations is considered as effective relationship between the employee and
employers which is present at workplace and enables to work together with an aim of
achievement of common goal (Syed and Ali, 2010). It is considered as development of effective
relationship and positive communication among the superiors and workers that aims to
achievement of organization goals. It also plays a significant role in enterprise as through this
staff member can be encouraged to accomplish the work for betterment of entity and in turn acts
a development tool. Positive work environment can be provided to employee in order to gain
their participation and involvement in decision-making as well as resolutions of industrial
disputes at workplace. In this scenario, analysis of British airways is done to understand the
technique which is used by the organisation to develop effective employee relations. BA is
global organization regulating its business operations in aviation industry of UK as well as across
various countries with a employee structure of around 57000 staff at workplace. Their main
objective is to provide best and quality services to its valuable customers for which effective
environment has been provided to employees and they are also given various opportunities
through which they have been encouraged to take initiative in the welfare of organization.
Moreover, various key main players have also been discussed to provide complete understand
about their contribution in development effective relationship between employees and
management at workplace.
TASK1
1.1 Unitary and pluralistic frame of reference.
Employee relations mainly refers to the formal and informal relationship between
employee and management within every business enterprise. In this context, British airways is
global organisation which has business operations across various countries and established
various subsidiaries in UK by providing employment to around 57000 employees (Kazlauskaite,
Buciuniene and Turauskas, 2011). For smooth business functioning and achievement of growth,
it is essential for company to develop positive relations with its employees and for this they have
to apply most suitable techniques from the alternatives which are given below:
 Unitary Frame: This approach of employee relations has provided an understanding that
power to take decisions should remain in the hands of single authority which is
1

management. In respect to this, employees that are working at top level within
management of British airways should posses the power to take crucial decisions related
to functioning of business operations. Mo rover, this perspective also states that managers
of British airways should accomplish the responsibility of encouraging commitment and
loyalty between employees at workplace (Bach and Kessler, 2011). Further, it also
signifies that there are many types of team work teams work together in organization for
accomplishment of set standards of performance and overall growth of company in
market. As per this perspective, conflicts which are arising between team members and
managers not occurs due to difference in interest. It provides an understanding that
participation of trade union is in effective as they will not provide any help in resolution
of disputes within organisation like British airways. These types of conflicts affects the
efficiency of enterprise as well as employees and it creates problems for management to
regulate business operations effectively.
 Pluralistic frame: This perspective of employee relations provides a clear understanding
that there is major role of trade union within organization in resolution of conflict (Van
Buren and Greenwood, 2011). In this context, this perspective implies that management
and trade union both work together with an aim providing welfare to employees. Usually
it is not followed by British airways as management doesn't want third party interference
to affected the employee relations at workplace.
Thus, it can be said that unitary method is beneficial for organization as it supports in
development of effective relationship within employees and management in organisation as well
as smooth functioning of business operations in aviation industry.
1.2 Amendments in trade unionism have affected trade unionism.
As per research, trade union is recognised as voluntary group of workers registered under
trade union act, which regulates with an major aim of protecting the rights of employees at
workplace. They also concentrate on removing problems which are usually faced individuals at
workplace like unfair labour practices, harassment, torture and discrimination and also ensure
that safe and healthy working environment should be provided to employees so that they will
work effectively and efficiently (D. Waters, Sevick Bortree and TJ Tindall, 2013). Moreover, the
movement of trade union was established in 19 centuries and with effective new of models of
unions. But it was also considered the concept was mainly introduced in the 1824 with some
2