Impact of Neoliberalism on Employee Relations

Impact Of Neoliberalism on Employee Relations 1
IMPACT OF NEOLIBERALISM ON EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
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Impact Of Neoliberalism on Employee Relations 2
Impact of neoliberalism on employee relations
Scholars define employee relations as the efforts placed by organizations to manage the
relationship between employees and employers. Having good employee associations ensures that
employees receive consistent and fair treatment hence increasing their loyalty and commitment
in their work. On the other hand, neoliberalism refers to a policy and ideology model which
emphasizes the importance of open market competition. In the current world, there exist
numerous culture’s needs, expectations and beliefs in the workplace. Labor relations are also
changes due to these changes in the market. Employment relations act as the most important
things that determine the performance of organizations. It is essential to have a glimpse at some
of the theories on employment relations because they can help managers to make better policies
at the workplace. Through these theories, workers can also learn how to maintain equal and fair
working environment besides ensuring that the company hears their cries. The essay will apply
the right theoretical arguments and current articles to support the main topic. The piece also
contains information about the impact of neoliberalism on employee relations in Australia.
Impact of neoliberalism on Australian employment relations
Policies recently developed by the Australian government are greatly prejudiced by
neoliberalism, and this hinders the implementation of employment associated laws such as
international disability policies. Within human rights and neoliberal assumptions to social
privileges, it is evident that employees with disabilities experience different challenges at the

Impact Of Neoliberalism on Employee Relations 3
workplace. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
many countries are experiencing difficulties in social policies of the development in high
unemployment, aging population, slower economic activities, and income support plans (Mendes
2017, p. 146). Australia has tried to solve these challenges through the user program, policies
and legislative changes. But the physically challenged have not received any benefit from these
changes because marginalization and discrimination remain a problem to them while seeking for
employment.
Harris, Owen, Fisher, and Gould (2014, p. 2) suggest that the aged and the disabled in
Australia do not receive the right treatment at work. Harris, Owen, Fisher, and Gould (2014, p. 2)
further argues that even these people get employed, they live close to poverty because they
receive low remuneration and are mistreated. The international community has suggested that the
disabled should be allowed to participate in the making of policies in the workplace. However,
neoliberalism influences policy tactics in Australia, and this affects the implementation of laws
(Centeno, and Cohen 2012, p. 340). Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
[HREOC] suggest that people with disabilities should be given more salaries because of the
numerous financial constraints due to their impairments. Other scholars also state that work
stoppages and union memberships have declined in Australia because of the increased strikes.
Neoliberalism is one of the things which have contributed to the increase in the job turnover and
reduction of union membership in Australia and even in other countries such as New Zealand.
Peetz and Bailey (2011, pp.62) state that the strikes which have taken place in Australia
have reduced the work attendance in the country. The government has also refused to take part in
negotiations aimed at changing the workplace policies. Australia has adopted neoliberalism and

Impact Of Neoliberalism on Employee Relations 4
unions have gone to the streets to maintain their existence. Wallace and Pease (2011, p. 134)
demonstrate that neoliberalism refers to the ideas which support the adherence to perfect market
assumptions and slightest state intervention which promotes the wellbeing of the capital. In
Australia, these ideas are described as economic fundamentalism and economic liberalism. The
policies made by the governments have many impacts on the union and even the disabled. These
reforms by the government erode the disability rights according to CRPB because they
emphasize on the individual change in behaviors over broader political economic and social-
cultural restructuring of attitudinal and institutional barriers.
The Australian government has tried to develop laws like the Disability Discrimination
Act (DDA) to protect the disabled against discrimination. The act helped to changes in
transportation and telecommunications, but it never achieved the desired outcomes in
employment. Due to neoliberalism, there is a gap which exists between the rights practiced and
the privileges which have been implemented in the system (Asquith 2010, p. 260). The United
Nations states that Australia needs to develop laws which can change how the disabled and other
people are treated at work. Australia has signed international agreements to protect and promote
the rights so that employees can be protected. The government, therefore, have to change abolish
or modify the existing regulations, practices, customs, and laws that lead to unfair treatment at
the workplace. CRPB demands changes in the rights through the implementation of effective and
comprehensive legislation.
According to Cooper (2010, p. 263) neoliberalism has a significant influence on the
communal right trajectory in all OECD countries. Australia has always wanted to achieve equal,
and full labor participation in the workplace but some factors hinder its dreams. The government