Analysis of Employee Relations at British Airways: A Report

This report examines employee relations within British Airways, exploring the application of unitary and pluralistic frames of reference, the impact of changes in trade unionism, and the roles of key individuals in fostering positive employee relations. It analyzes procedures for conflict resolution, focusing on negotiation and collective bargaining strategies. The report further investigates the influence of the EU on industrial democracy in the UK and compares various methods for employee involvement in decision-making. Finally, it assesses the impact of HR management on employee relations, providing a comprehensive overview of the strategies employed by British Airways to maintain a healthy working environment and achieve organizational goals. The case study highlights the importance of employee relations in driving business success, emphasizing the need for effective communication, fair practices, and employee engagement.

Employee Relations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Unitary and Pluralistic Frames of References.......................................................................1
1.2 Influence of changes in trade unionism on employee relations............................................2
1.3 Role of key people in employee relations.............................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Procedures which can be followed in order to deal with any conflict..................................4
2.2 Crucial features of employee relation in conflict situation...................................................5
2.3 Successfulness of the procedure used by the management at the time of conflict................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective bargaining.........................................................................6
3.2 Impact of negotiation strategy...............................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Influence of the EU on industrial democracy in UK.............................................................7
4.2 Comparison of the methods used to gain employees and involvement in the decision
making.........................................................................................................................................8
4.3 Impact that HR management has on the employee relations................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Employee relation is the relation which highlights a bond between employees and the
management of the company. In the lay man language it could be said that it is the interaction
between the management and the workers of the organisation. The main motto of the company is
to encourage the staff to do work more effectively and on time. It has significant role in the
success of the business as through it they can easily able to attain the desired goals. But for that
they have to maintain the healthy working environment in the company and should include staff
in the decision making process (Batool and Batool, 2012). In this report, the case scenario of
British Airways is taken as they are know for their efforts for bringing better relation has made
them one of the successful organisation in the aviation segment. They are well versed with the
fact that if they want to increase their profits they need to work on the employee relation.
TASK 1
1.1 Unitary and Pluralistic Frames of References.
These are two processes through employee relation can be managed in British Airways
and it also ensure better performance. Unitary approach of employee relations briefs that when it
comes to decision making for any particular situation there will be only one person or party who
will be taking the decision. These may be management of the enterprise or the people who are
the members of board (Apple, 2013). Whatever decision they have taken will benefit them in
future and at the same time it also explains that there are various teams who work with
coordination to attain the desired and increase in the efficiency of the work. There are some
characteristics of Unitary perspective which states that trade unions does not have much
influence in the dispute situation. Conflicts can hamper the efficiency and pace of the
organisation so at that time management will find it harder to satisfy the consumers.
Pluralistic perspective explains that any workplace consists of various attitudes, values,
beliefs and behaviours. It highlights the importance of management as they are considered as
middle men between the directors of the company and employees. Trade union also has the same
role as represent the interest of the employee. They also ensure that workers should be part of the
decision making process. With this they can bring a stability in relation in which employees and
employers are part of that firm (The unitary and pluralist perspectives of employee relations,
2010). They can adopt the process of negotiation through collective bargaining process.
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These are two approaches which can be taken into account by British Airways and at the
same scene they can know the importance of trade union.
Illustration 1: Industrial relation, 2016
Source 1: Conflict. 2016
1.2 Influence of changes in trade unionism on employee relations.
Any change in the trade unionism widely impact the employee relation in any firm. Trade
Union can be defined as the group in which there are lots of members who has same motive and
interest. They try to put demands which are from the employees side. These demands may be
related to the hike in the wages, demanding better condition for the work (Certo, 2015). It
become a legal body in the year 1824 and they stood with the demands that they want proper
salary with better working conditions. Employees relations at British Airways has impacted them
as there is change in the trade unionism. These changes are taking place due to change in the
factors.
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Political and Legal: It is the fact that the new laws affects the ER in BA. For example;
the government of UK has just passed out certain law regarding the equal opportunities to any
workers who are part of the industry. There will be dispute situation between the trade union and
the employers if they does not give them better and equal opportunities (Chowdhary, 2013). The
impact of this they will experience on their efficiency as workers will not work with their full
dedication.
Technological: With the modification in the fleets thus adding more advance features
bring cuts in the employment rate at British Airways. They will fire certain employee thus giving
rise to the dispute and it will directly impact the relation between management and staff. To
protest for this the staff will go on strike thus reducing the sales of British Airways.
Trade Union can play a crucial role in reducing the communication gap between the
employees and employers. After the year 1979 there were almost 7.3 million members of trade
unions. From there they are protecting the interest of the employees but there can be variations in
the trade unions depending upon the industry in which they are existing.
1.3 Role of key people in employee relations
Employee relation is more important for the business organization to achieve competitive
advantage in effective manner. For this company needs to gather relevant efforts by different
people to maintain healthy relation among employees and its employer. British Airways define
various player to bring better coordination with in the employees which are as follows: Employer: Manager as well as employer are the one who select and recruit skilled and
capable participate in the organization to perform the job in effective manner. So that it is
main responsibility of the employer to maintain the better standard in the organizational
activities to maintain their product quality (Do Paco and Cláudia Nave, 2013). Employer
of the British Airways increase their overall productivity and profitability in appropriate
manner by resolving all the conflicts that arise at working place. Employees: In organization employees are the most essential assets which contribute in
achieving greater success. Employees are the one who make the final products to its end-
users by performing their activities in effective manner. It is the important duty of the
employees to done their work and understand their all the responsibilities to attain higher
success.
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 Trade unions: These are the special groups which define in various business activities to
protect as well as safeguard the employees and employer interest. For this trade union
focus on defining better coordination in all the business activities and also aid in
publishing the company products at the marketplace (Fard and Karimi, 2015). Employer associations: For manage and maintain good relation between employees and
employer this association play an important role so that every organization use available
resources in effective manner. This aid in encouraging and protecting employees rights at
working place in appropriate manner.
 Government bodies: organization in every country have to follows all the rules and
regulations of employees relation which is set by the government bodies to protect their
interest toward its work. All these rules affect the whole business activities which helps
in promoting the social welfare in the market. The main aim of government authorities to
maintain the healthy relations among all the employees at workplace.
TASK 2
2.1 Procedures which can be followed in order to deal with any conflict.
There might be chances that British Airways may face lots of situation where they come
over certain disputes. To deal with those they can follow various procedures. Strikes and
collective disputes at the workplace can be certain situations. Collective dispute arise when there
is no proper working environment or when the work is not distributed properly. When any
employees feel such thing they can report it to their higher authority and it is the duty of those
people to look into the matter and try to resolve it as quick as possible (Federici and Skaalvik,
2012). Managers at British Airways ensures that no employee faces discrimination on the basis
of caste, religion, sex, colour and etc. In the process the first thing which has to be done for
resolution of the dispute is to analyse the situation and look for the solution. A time limit will be
set in which this dispute will be resolved. Still they feel that things are not up to the mark they
can go for Alternative Dispute Resolution process. The strike at British Airways came to protest
against the increase in the working hours and the management can adopt collective bargaining to
resolve it.
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2.2 Crucial features of employee relation in conflict situation.
There has been dispute at the British Airways regarded the uneven distribution of the
work between the male and female employees (Gilbert, De Winne and Sels, 2011). This is
affecting their working environment and the profits. Following are the key features in this:-
Affecting the relationship between the male and female staff: Collective dispute has
brought hard relation between the male and female staff of the British Airways. The male
members are annoyed with the fact that work in BA is not distributed evenly so they want that
the management should treat both male and female equally. This way they are not giving their
full effort at the workplace. Thus affecting the productivity of the British Airways.
Not happy from the Organisation: There might be situation when the staff of the
British Airways are not happy with the management strategy of the work allotment and this way
their moral is also going down thus bringing a bad relation between the workers. The HR
department need to resolve this issue through Arbitration method. Arbitrator will look into the
matter through listening both the parties and after that he will give decision on it.
2.3 Successfulness of the procedure used by the management at the time of conflict.
To know that the process used by the British Airways was effective or not can be
measured in collective dispute type of conflicting condition. They have to take help from the
dispute handling process. It is considered as the potential process as in this both the parties who
are in conflict situation sit together in front of the arbitrator and discuss on the matter. This is the
best way to resolve any conflict situation and the female employees at British Airways can also
share their viewpoint on the improper distribution of the work in front of the higher authority.
They can also ask the officials that what is the reason behind the action which is taken and if the
manager gives them proper and legitimate reason the dispute issue can be resolved
(Mosadeghrad, Ferlie and Rosenberg, 2011). On the other side whatever decision is made the
employees are not happy with it so they have option of putting their case to the board members.
This is the best way to resolve any issue and it takes less time and creates a positive
image of the British Airways among their customers and employees. There are also some
probability that the employees might not become satisfied with the decision. Any person who are
part of the British Airways from a longer period of time and has certain expertise can be included
in the dispute resolution process. This can be analysed that whatever procedure used by the BA
has been effective in resolving the issue.
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TASK 3
3.1 Role of negotiation in collective bargaining
Negotiation is an effective process to resolve all the conflicts which arise between two
parties. This approach is used by the British Airways which include the better discussion among
all the employees who face the problems in the business. Conflicts are arise at various level of
business so that in this collective bargaining play a vital role to resole it effectively. It is an
effective process because it define the positive and healthy negotiation between employees and
employer about the issues. Negotiation is more effective in collective bargaining because it
provide and develop employer responsibilities in appropriate manner (Nadin and Williams,
2011). British Airways used collective bargaining approach to solve the complex situation in
their business activities it aid in enhancing the morale of the employees so that they perform their
work effectively and get positive results. For evaluating positive work environment it is more
important for the company to maintain the healthy relation among all the employees and its
manager so that they provide effective conclusion to solve the dispute in the business activities.
There are some effective use of negotiation in collective bargaining which are as follows: Negotiation aid in achieving better solution: In this process to negotiation it also
evaluate the best solution to eliminate the dispute that faced by the workers at working
area. By using this procedure employees conduct a formal discussion with their top
management about the conflicts in order to get effective solution to resolve it effectively
and attain best and positive results.
 Negotiation helps in improving the effectiveness in the collective bargaining process:
British Airways used negotiation process because they want to resolve all the conflicts
that take a place among all the employees. In this employees are able to define the reason
of the selecting employment practices in front of their customers. In this the top level
management arrange the formal meeting with their workers about all the problems and
find the better solution to solve it effectively. In the negotiation play effective role in
increasing overall performance of the company in positive manner. The main of this
process to maintain the target of the market which increase the efficiency of the collective
bargaining procedure (Newsom, Turk and Kruckeberg, 2012).
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3.2 Impact of negotiation strategy
In negotiation method two parties interact with each other to find the solution to resolve
the conflicts. It can be evaluate in various strategies which are as follows: Yielding: It is not a part of negotiation methods because it impact negatively at
organization process. In this one party think that other party is more powerful than him so
that they accept all the facts which saying by the another party. Compromising: It is an effective strategy in this both parties play fairly because both are
respect each other so that they do compromise in the end and attain fair results. They
think that nobody get what they want and they also care about others and also respect
their feelings. Both parties think that they are equal (Oraman, 2011). So that it is an
effective process of the negotiation to get positive results. With the help of this strategy
British Airways full fill all the needs of the employees in effective manner and get their
commitment. Competing: It is an negative approach because in this one party wants to achieve
maximum benefits. It is totally opposite from compromising. Both parties put their efforts
to achieve higher profits which decrease the overall productivity of the employees at
workplace and company face many complex situation so that it should not used by the
manager.
 Problem solving: It is also an effective because it is similar to the compromising strategy.
In this both parties interact with each other to find the better solution to resolve the
conflicts in effective way (Padala, 2011).
All these strategy is used by the British Airways to sole all the problems in effective
manner and maintain positive work environment.
TASK 4
4.1 Influence of the EU on industrial democracy in UK
Industrial democracy define the freedom which is given to the employees so that they
take effective part on decision making process. They having various roles and responsibilities
which contribute in overall success of the company. EU impact on industrial democracy in
various way because they set various acts and legislation from the employees so that they show
their rights in decision making process. If British do not follow all the acts so that they face more
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complexity like employees strikes and lockout which impact on business in negative way. On the
other factors which is cultural difference (Tamini and Kord, 2011). For example multinational
company do not having any culture so if they operate their operations so that they comes under
EU. These policies define the employee duties which aid in making positive workplace. There
are some main and important impact of EU on industrial democracy:
 It helps in protecting employees rights
 Increase the freedom to employees to take part in decision making process.
 It also helps in safeguarding the employees interest.
So that overall EU policies contribute in making better environment and also increase the
effectiveness in the industrial democracy in UK.
4.2 Comparison of the methods used to gain employees and involvement in the decision making
British Airways used various process as well as methods to gain worker involvement in
the decision making process. Without workers business can not able to achieve success so that it
is important responsibility of the manager to fulfil all the needs which required by the employees
(Van Puyvelde and et.al., 2012). Satisfied employees perform their work effectively an also take
part in various activities of the company. Positive and healthy employees relation also aid in
reducing the chances of arising the conflicts at working place. Survey, consultation process used
by the British Airways to evaluate the involvement of the employees. For this company provide
better opportunities to give their views and opinion to the seniors so that they take better decision
in business activity. So that every employees thinks that yes they are valuable for the company.
Attitude survey method is also effective for the company because they allow to the employees to
show their participation in overall business process. Both are aid in defining the employees
involvement and also increase the morale of the workers. With the help of these an employees
show their dissatisfaction in front of top management so that they helps them to resolve it and
make sure that it will not faced in future. So that both parties eliminate all dispute through
interacting and discussing with each others. With the help of these process employees easily take
participation in decision making process.
4.3 Impact that HR management has on the employee relations
Human resource management is essential part of the company to manage and control all
the activities which perform by the employees (Willis, 2012). It define effective role in maintain
the employee relation. If HR department of the British Airways make sure about all the process
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and working environment so that they employees perform their work in effective manner and get
positive results. To maintain positive work environment manager of the company bring the better
coordination among all the employees because every person having different culture from other
so that it create conflicts between them. If they maintain better relation so that all the employees
get motivated with each other by sharing their opinion and views. The HR manager of the British
Airways use new and innovative technologies and procedures to fulfil their employees needs
which affect the overall performance of the company in effective manner (Yang, 2012). They
organisational survey so that every employees share their issues and find better solution to
resolve it. They adopt pluralistic approach to set the better relation and it contribute in improving
the productivity of the company and its employees. Maintain better employee relation is more
important for the British Airways to achieve competitive success. For this the HR manager have
to set good coordination between employees in effective way. All this aid to the cited company
to perform their activities in order to maintain their brand image at marketplace.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been briefed that if any firm what to achieve the targets they
need to put their efforts to increase the moral of the employees. This way they will be able to
improve the relationship with their employees. With the negotiation strategies British Airways
can retain their staff. Trade Union can act as concept which reduced the communication between
the employees and employers.
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