Employee Relations and its Impact: Marks & Spencer Report Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employee relations within Marks & Spencer, a British multinational retailer. It begins by highlighting the value and importance of employee relations, emphasizing its role in fostering employee loyalty, reducing conflict, and increasing productivity. The report then delves into the fundamentals of employment law, including key policies such as bullying and harassment, the Employment Act 2008, equal opportunities, and health and safety regulations. It outlines the rights, duties, and obligations of both employers and employees, offering practical advice for navigating employment relationships, including national minimum wages, work-life balance, and compliance with regulations. Furthermore, the report examines stakeholder analysis within the organization and assesses the positive and negative impacts of employee relations on various stakeholders, providing a well-rounded perspective on the subject.

Employee Relations in Global
Era

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1 Explaining the value and importance of employee relations in Marks & Spencer...........1
P2 Explaining the fundamental of employment law..............................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................4
P3 Explaining the different types of rights, duties and obligations an employer and employee.
................................................................................................................................................4
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
P4 Appropriate advice relating to rights, duties and obligations of employment relationship6
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................6
P5 Stakeholder analysis for a given organisation...................................................................6
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................9
P6 Impact of both positive and negative employee relations on different stakeholders........9
Positive impact of employee relations on different stakeholders ..........................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Industrial relation and employment relation is the most essential and effective
relationship which has to be maintained by the companies. In other terms, employee relation is
the most important thing for the employer in order to meet out organisational goals. Several
issues of employee relation might be the big concerns in international situations. Present study is
based on Employee relation of “Marks & Spencer” which is the British multinational retailer,
M&S deals with clothing, fashion, groceries, etc. The main purpose of this file is to outline
employee relation in global era with regard to potential issues. The study will explain all
important aspects of employee growth such as employment law, rights and duties of an employer
and positive and negative impact of employee relation on the business stakeholders.
LO 1
P1 Explaining the value and importance of employee relations in Marks & Spencer.
Employee relation within the working environment is very much necessary to maintain
the effective working environment within the company (Barry and Wilkinson, 2016). Employee
relation helps in managing strength and productivity employees’ performance. Employee relation
at workplace generally focused on avoiding and resolving issues between employees and give
support to each and every one values and beliefs. Effective employee relation is productive for
Marks & Spencer to stabilise the employee performance. Strong employee relation creates a
positive work environment and motivation among employees.
Importance and value of employee’s relation in M & S
Employee loyalty
This is the first reason why company do have the good employee relation within the
Marks & Spencer. Strong bond between employer and employee within firm is important for
managing employee loyalty and maintaining the productive work environment in the company. It
is more valuable for the company because, it increases the value and also support of employees
working in different stores of company across international boundaries. For example: Biggest
advantage to employee relation within Marks and Spencer is employment contract which helps
the business in securing employee loyalty. Termination of employment is another reason of lack
of employee relation which creates fear in between employees for jobs. That affect the
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performance of the employees as well (Bernstein, 2015). for that, company adopt effective
employee training session to develop employee productivity and growth.
Conflict Reduction
This is another reason or the importance of employee retention, it helps to resolve
conflict between employees. M&S focuses on negotiation to resolve the conflict between
employees and to maintain the happy working environment across all stores (Chin and et.al.,
2016). This term gives value to employee thoughts and beliefs which is most effective in global
business era.
Increased productivity
Positive employee relation increases the employee working performance. That motivates
them towards new goals and success within the company. It enhances the value and confidence
level of individual which is the main purpose of employee relation. This helps to support
effective working performance in a global business era. For example, to keep maintained the
proper employee retention M&S conducts weekly sessions to measure the employee queries,
needs and wants. This practice helps to motivate employee interest and boost working
productivity. Implication of motivational practices motivate employees which influences work
productivity and enables productive working environment as well.
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Illustration 1: Employee Relation
(Source: Fritsch and et.al., 2018)

P2 Explaining the fundamental of employment law.
Employment law act 2008 must be adopted by the company in order to keep the company
environment ethical. It is the regulatory systematic relationship between employer or employee
which has to be present within the company functional activities. These laws and regulations
keep sustained the company nature and environment in global era. It helps to customize legal
solutions for employees with regard to complex employment and labour law matters (Fritsch and
et.al., 2018). There are some fundamentals of employment law which are adopted by Marks and
Spencer (Employment law Fundamentals, 2019).
Bullying and harassment policy
This policy consists to reduce bullying and harassment from the workplace to provide
safe and free working environment. Therefore, it has aim to ensure that all staff must treated with
dignity and respect. This policy in M&S is adopted for making employee relation more effective.
Company needs to ensure that every employee is safe and secure under the company premises.
Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious which is not legal within the company. M&S
needs to ensure positive environment within the company by compliance with Equality Act 2010
which restrict unethical activity within working environment of firm.
Employment Act 2008
According to this act, disciplinary and grievance procedure consider which assists to
remove minimum statutory disciplinary problems from workplace. This also assists to set new
code which helps to deal with process and confrontational. M&S adopt disciplinary policies with
the help of which firm has set working standards for all employees which helps the management
in ensuring discipling in employee’s activities all internal stores. Proper discipline system is
encouraged by compliance with the Employment Act 2008 which support firm with Grievance
Procedures and statutory Disciplinary.
Equal Opportunities policy
It is the important policy which determines to treat each employee equally and provide
same opportunities them without any discrimination. Discrimination must remover on the basis
of age, colour, disability, etc. M&S acquire equal opportunity policies by complying with
Equality Act 2010 into their business practices to maximise employee motivation. M&S workers
gives their best performance to ensure the effective customer good selection and goals. Company
provides equal satisfaction to employees by adopting fair wages, and treat every employee equal.
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Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
This law considers activities which lays down to develop wide range of duties on
employers. As a result, it is essential to employer need to protect their staff members to create
welfare of them. The firm comply with this act to set fundamental structure against safety of
workers at workplace. This helps the business in managing employee protection within work
environment. The guidelines support the business in securing safety management and employee
relation with all staff members working across international stores.
LO 2
P3 Explaining the different types of rights, duties and obligations an employer and employee.
Employer
Employer is the person or an individual who needs to ensure employees’ rights and
their safety needs. Employer is focused on setting goals and give authority to their employees
in order to accomplish the task and goals. Employer of M&S offers wages and salary to their
staff members in exchange for their work and labour. With this regard, salary is also paid to
them to set rate per pay period.
Rights Duties Obligation
 Employers of M&S
give their employees
safe place to work
with appropriate
equipment’s and tools
required for
performing job role.
 Employer right is to
disclose information
regarding hob role of
an individual at the
time of selection in
the chosen business.
 Ensuring occupational
safety of employees
against global legal
issues like workplace
harassment,
discrimination and
equal opportunity.
 Employer is also
responsible to provides
employee facilities to
all individuals.
(LaFrance, Lange and
Myers, 2018).
 Employer obligation
is to pay fair wages
and salary to
employees.
 Offers employees
good opportunity for
development.
 Another obligation of
the employer is to
motivate employees
towards the great
work efforts (Jensen,
2017).
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 Employer needs to
full fill the basic
needs of employees
and also ensure that
everyone taking fair
salary and
compensation as well.
Such as Employer
needs to adopt health
and safety work
environment act in the
business
 Employer right is to
make employees
comfortable and treat
their employees with
respect.
 Employer also need to
make sure about the
health and safety issues
at the workplace and
make sure they prevent
employees from
uncertainties.
 Reimbursing
employees for work
related expenses.
 Not providing any
information which is
not good for
employees.
 Adopt appropriate
working practices and
goals for better
development of
employees.
Employee
Employee is the person employed for wages or salary, especially at non-executive level.
Marks & Spencer company. People engaged with the company with some specific goal and
objective (Klimkiewicz and Oltra, 2017). Employees have some specific rights and obligations
in order to meet out the company objectives and goals. In M&S, employee can be defines as
individual who work part or fulltime under contract of employment. With this regard, contract
has been made with oral, written and expressed term. Therefore, it recognised with rights and
duties which consider under co-worker.
Rights Duties Obligation
 To follow instructions
given by the
supervisors based on
some particular
conditions and goals.
 To maintained the
good relation with
colleagues as well as
customers also.
 It is the duty of
 To perform a task as
per the specification
given by employer.
 To adopt all
disciplinary aspects of
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 Right is to observe
the provisions of this
proclamation,
collective and
agreements work
rules and directives
issues in accordance
with the law.
 Employee rights is to
create more sales or
approach more orders
for Marks & Spencer
company.
Employees to be fair
with work and also
need to adopt all
regulatory implications
and roles and
responsibility
(O'Connor and et.al.,
2016).
the company.
 To inform employer
about any immediate
emergency
requirements.
 Be honest with the
company.
 Keep business and
trade secrets from
other competitors.
LO 2
P4 Appropriate advice relating to rights, duties and obligations of employment relationship
In employment relationship, employees are working for regular wage and salary which
automatically consider contract of employment. Full contract of employment in Marks &
Spencer determines different terms and conditions that helps to maintain effective relationship.
In this regard, following advice can be distributed in employment: National minimum wages: In this aspect, it is important for Marks & Spencer to provide
proper rates of pay. This is because, minimum wage shows maintain employment
relationship with providing appropriate amount of money (Helfen, Schüßler and Stevis,
2016). Work life balance: In work life balance, employment relationship can be maintained with
providing additional benefits to each employee at workplace. For instance, adequate rest,
breaks, etc. Following all federal regulations: In order to provide advice, it can be stated that all
rules and regulations must be followed of managing employment relationship. The
compliance with regulation of Marks and spencer in Global era should be based on legal
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issues that is equal opportunities, discrimination, workplace harassment, etc. (Baruch,
Altman and Tung, 2016).
 Obligations related with employment relationship: Along with this, it is important to
develop positive relationship with follow obligations and duties which can be implied in
business. It can be found in employment contract which made between employer and
employee. Hence, it is important to implement regulations related with health and safety,
etc. (Baruch, Altman and Tung, 2016).
 Mutual reliance: Employer and employee relationship in M&S must comply with
mutual reliance. Therefore, employer can promote their relationship to run business
operations smoothly. As a result, it enables to develop potential relations and relying on
outcomes.
 Relationship building: Employer and employee relationship must develop their
relationship to attain overall targets and outcomes. In this regard, employees can promote
building of this relationship to share information in systematic manner.
LO 3
P5 Stakeholder analysis for a given organisation
In Marks & Spencer, there are different types of stakeholders those consist important
aspect in the enterprise. With the help of this analysis, management consider important process
in which successful people used to win and support from others (Mullin and et.al., 2018). With
the help of communication, it can be ensuring that benefits can be understand from project to
gain more desired results. Following are different steps can be undertaken in stakeholder
analysis:
Interests of
Stakeholders
Keep completely informed Manage most thoroughly
Shareholders
Government
Director
Creditors
Pressure groups
Suppliers
Trade unions
Local community
Competitors
Customers
Managers
Employees
Regular minimal contact Anticipate and meet needs
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Influence of stakeholders
Shareholders: In this group, shareholders, consider to whom the chosen organisation
completely informed about business operations and functions. In addition to this, desired level of
information gathers in the selected enterprise which helps to communicate several benefits at
workplace. Shareholders of the business have main role to take complete information regarding
business. Furthermore, it has been noted that information is gathered for accomplish several
purposes (Marchington and et.al., 2016). Hence, input provided for other analysis to inform
development of action plan. These plans also identify concrete actions and possibly work to
increase positive results. In addition to this, in this analysis purpose can be define which identify
potential uses of the information. It is also influencing at high level of work that impact on day to
day working. As a result, they are taking part to maintain effective relationship with several
employees to work together.
Employees: Along with this, managers are also communicating and collecting
information which provide details to take particular position. They are also working to get
appropriate information. As a result, they included in forth block (Chernyak-Hai and Rabenu,
2018). Furthermore, employee’s possess role to take their participation in business goals and
objectives with making more efforts. Hence, it helps to maintain positive relationship which
influence overall decisions in effective manner (Helfen, Schüßler and Stevis, 2016).
Trade union: Trade union, assists to take part in regular and minimal contact. This is
because, trade union helps to maintain relationship between employer and employees. They play
roles to communicate several benefits that can be design to maintain relations of Marks and
Spencer with different aspects and consideration. Furthermore, they are included with less
contact regularly. In addition to this, interest of particular group has been developed with
activities and outcomes. Individuals are constantly touched with business operations on daily
basis which helps to reach with direct and indirect interest to accomplish goals in Marks &
Spencer. Hence, it includes shareholders, executive management, etc. Furthermore, Development
of list of priority stakeholder with input also shows from experts (Meijerink, Bondarouk and
Lepak, 2016). In order to maintain proper relationship among people, trade union play important
role in the business.
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Customers: Customer, are stakeholders those anticipate and meet with needs. Therefore,
effectiveness will be increasing to promote and define purpose in Marks and Spencer. Every
customer of Marks and Spencer demand for low cost product with high quality. Customers play
very important role in the business to increase productivity so that it influence employees to
accomplish targets and goals. Hence, positive relationship among them successfully develop.
Therefore, it is essential to accomplish desired level of needs that can be communicate to attain
overall goals and objectives. In addition to this, employees are looking to gain more benefits and
pay benefits that ascertained to focus on goals and objectives. On the basis of quick response, it
can be stated that positive communication strategy will be develop which influence to whole
process and characteristics of staff members (Baruch, Altman and Tung, 2016).
Suppliers : These are the important stakeholders of marks and Spencer those who provide raw
material to firm. An organisation by making timely payment to suppliers has developed strong
relationship with them. The supplier have influence on the operational plan made by an
organisation.
Media : Media helps n organisational in promoting goods and services. These stakeholder
influence an enterprise to use specific media for promoting goods nad services.
LO 4
P6 Impact of both positive and negative employee relations on different stakeholders
In Marks & Spencer, several stakeholders exist such as customers, employees, managers,
government, director, etc. With this regard, greater cooperation among employees and managers
helps to motivate towards effective results at workplace. Therefore, it will assist to develop more
significant advantages. However, when lower pay rates provide to employees it reduced their
productivity and increases error rate (Helfen, Schüßler and Stevis, 2016). In respect to create
employee welfare, it is essential to include following concerns:
Positive impact of employee relations on different stakeholders
In order to maintain effectiveness in the business, it is essential to focus on employee and
employer relationship. With this regard, strategy also successfully develop which consider
productivity level among several employees which impact on stress levels, leading with higher
productivity in overall perspective. In Marks and Spencer, ongoing and focused communication
helps to resolve complaints easily. Furthermore, employee relation leads to cooperation and
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