Comprehensive Report on Employee Relations at Marks and Spencer

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employee relations within Marks and Spencer, a British multinational retailer. It begins by highlighting the value and importance of employee relations, discussing the significance of effective communication and addressing employee grievances. The report then delves into fundamental aspects of employment law, including key legislation like the Employment Rights Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. It outlines the rights, obligations, and duties of both employers and employees, emphasizing the need for a safe and fair workplace. Furthermore, the report conducts a stakeholder analysis, categorizing stakeholders based on their power and interest, and examines how stakeholder engagement contributes to positive employment relationships. The analysis includes the impact of various stakeholders on business objectives. Finally, the report discusses how performance appraisals and quality services contribute to stakeholder satisfaction. The report concludes with suggestions to improve employee relations, such as avoiding favoritism, using positive reinforcement, and providing constructive feedback.

Work and the Employment
Relationship

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
An explanation of value and importance of employee relations at workplace as well as an
analysis of the fundamental of employment law..........................................................................3
An explanation of the different rights, obligations and duties that an employer and employee
has within workplace....................................................................................................................5
Stakeholder analysis for Marks and Spencer as well as analyse how stakeholder engagement
and contribution can support positive employment relationships within firm.............................7
Positive and negative impact of employee relations on different stakeholders............................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Employment relationship determines a legal term between employer and employee that
exist when an individual performs work under certain condition in return of desired
remuneration. It is also analysed as a key point that discusses the nature of employer’s rights as
well as obligations towards their subordinates (Valenduc, 2019). In this respect, employer needs
to maintain healthy relationship among employees in order to promote efficiency in the
workplace. This report is based on Marks and Spencer which is a British multinational retailer.
The organisation was founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in the year of 1884. This
report determines value and importance of employee relations as well as fundamental law related
to this. Furthermore, different duties, rights and obligations for employee and employer at
workplace. It also covers stakeholder analysis as well as its positive and negative impact over
organisation and its practices.
MAIN BODY
An explanation of value and importance of employee relations at workplace as well as an
analysis of the fundamental of employment law
Employee’s relation
It is the pre-assumption step in the organisation to build the efficient services in the different
workforces in the organisation in order to maximise the satisfaction of the company. It generally
help the large organisation to resolve the issues and eliminate the risk of the organisation as to
maintain the desirable organisation and achieve the success of the company (Langer, Feeney and
Lee, 2019). So it can be concluded that values and importance of employee’s relation are
explained below:
Value and importance of employee’s relation:
 Effective communication: to make the employees committed and make a growth of their
individual report is can be done by effective communication. This procedure help in
maintaining the clarity in the mind regarding different objective of the organisational

structure. Hence the effective communication is the most important aspect of the
employment relation in the respected company.
 Handle the grievances and stress of employees: As the employees are working for the
organisation since from the very long time with full of efficiency (Vance, 2016). The
manager of the respected company once faced the allegation of sex discrimination in the
employees when, they offers the salary to a male employee more than to a female
employee for the same work and responsibility. After this allegation they applied the
different policies and provide the equal opportunities to the employees.
Employment law
Employment law are made for the safety of the local authority to support the main
function of the business organisation by describing the rights of the employees. This actually
help the organisation to not violate the rules and regulation within the organisation. And if
they not followed the rules, then they have to face the negative implication like imprisonment
and high fine and penalties.
 Employment right act, 1966: This act was established by the government of UK, to
safe guide the rights of the interest of the employees. This law implies that the unfair
trade practice, law wages employment rate and etc.
 Healthy and Safety work act, 1974: According to this act, the manager of the any
company need to be maintain the healthy working environment in the organisation. It
includes weakly leaves, less overtime, and not exceed the working hour of the
company. Marks and spencer introduced the complete training and induction
programmes for the employees.
Suggestions to improve the employee’s relation
 As the employees of the M&S Company wants the fair treatment in the organisation, so
the employer must be needed to avoid the favouritism. Also they avoid the monotony
business line in the organisation so that in the respected company the employees of the
organisation never get bored with the same work.

 The manager of M&S Company, the positive reinforcement are be used in the
organisation so that they increase the motivation in the employees ( Belias and
Koustelios, 2015). Also sometimes in the meetings, the employees are awarded in the
meeting and seminars.
 A constructive feedback is provided by the employees so that the top management team
will be known about the employees need in the organisation and if they are satisfying
with the work culture of the respected company or not.
An explanation of the different rights, obligations and duties that an employer and employee has
within workplace
Organisation consist of different designations and division of people who have to perform
the tasks according to their abilities and the work experience they posses. There are different
employers and employees who are part of various departments are working simultaneousness to
work collectively with a aim to achieve the required goal. Some of the right, duties and
obligations of employer and employee in Marks and Spencer are mentioned below:
Rights and duties of employers:
 Provide a safe workplace that is free from hazards there is use of labels, colour codes to
warn employees before using of any hazardous equipments.
 Updating of the workers regarding changes that are part of external environment so that
they are able to remain competitive in the changing environment and are able to
overcome the hurdles (Zimmerman, Swider and Boswell, 2019).

 There is responsibility of the employer that they have to make their whole personnel who
is working in different departments aware about the responsibility and rights so that there
can be no misleading of any member of the organization.
 If there is any type of major incidence that is taking place in the organisation then that
have to be reported to the concerned authority that how the employee is having their
personal interest or preferences. This leads to employees posing a feeling that they are
given the required importance and are the valuable asset for the organization.
Obligation of employer:
 In marks and Spencer employer has to provide equal opportunities to employees without
making any discrimination based on religion, fender and status.
 Maintain the record of every employee according to their personal details, contact details
and ensuring that it remains confidential.
Rights and duties of employees:
 Abide to all the guidelines. In M&S employees have to listen and understand the
customers needs to effective solve all the problems.
 During the time of discussion it is employee duty to provide their valuable opinion so that
they can contribute towards effective decision making in Marks and Spencer.
 Employees have to focus on the aspects of employment contract that include various
conditions that have to be signed according to the mutual consignment of employee and
employer at the workplace. It is also part of the legal obligation of employee that they
have to fulfil all the guidelines of the contact in a effective manner.
Obligation of employee:
 In Marks and Spencer employees have to comply with all the policies, procedures and
instructions that are provided by the managers to promote a business functioning
(Arba’i, 2019). Along with it there are also certain physiological contracts that are
operated by both the parties in a organisation that mentions clearly the expectation of
both employer and employees.

From the above mentioned criteria it can be summarized that all the roles &
responsibilities have to be properly distributed by the top executive of organisation so that
employer and employee posses high amount of clarity related to their rights and responsibilities.
It will also lead towards maintaining of higher coordination. It will lead towards achievement of
the laid roles and responsibilities of the business.
Stakeholder analysis for Marks and Spencer as well as analyse how stakeholder engagement and
contribution can support positive employment relationships within firm.
In an organisation, stakeholder play an essential role in order to manage project of a firm.
Project stakeholders are the individuals who actively involved in the projects and are affected as
a result of its effective execution or its completion.
Stakeholders analysis: This process basically used to evaluate power and interest of
stakeholders within firm. On the basis of this, employer can evaluate how actively they influence
behaviour of firm (Herriot, 2013). Main objective behind stakeholder analysis is to implement
effective practices that can help to communicate and keep informed workforce in order to carry
out business activities appropriately to attain target objectives. The stakeholder power interest
framework categorised as follows:
 Keep satisfied: These are the individuals who have high power but low interest in the
firm and its activities. In the context of Marks and Spencer, they are director of finance,
director of HR, Services sales and so on. Thus, for the firm it is required to keep the
people satisfied who belongs to this level.
 Mange closely: These are the individuals who have high power in the firm as well as
have high interest in the business practices. In respect of Marks and Spencer, individual
of this level are HOD, CEO, manager and managerial level employees. Thus for the firm
it is required to fully engage with them as well as make greatest efforts to satisfy them.
 Monitor: At this level, individuals are those who have low interest in business activities
as well as have low power to influence business decision making (Bidwell and et.al.,
2013). These can be, event coordinator, consulting admin and so on. Thus, management
of firm requires to monitor them but don’t engage in decision making activities.

 Keep informed: Individuals who belongs to this level have low power to influence
business decision making but have high interest in overall activities. In respect of Marks
and Spencer, employee of this category could be sales support, customer insight unit and
so on. For firm and its management, it is required to adequately inform these people and
ensure that no major issues arising in front of them. Stakeholders of this category can be
very helpful in order to getting each details related to business project.
Stakeholders engagement can lead to positive employment relation
In Marks and Spencer, stakeholder engagement plays an essential role because its assist
in managing business profitability and productivity directly. Stakeholder engagement basically a
practice under which an organisation can interact with stakeholder and can influence them to
remain a part of firm. In this regard, management of M&S always meet the requirements as well
as expectation of their stakeholder in order to provide them desired satisfaction with the business
services. Stakeholder satisfaction refers to a situation that exist when management hire most
suitable candidate according to business requirement and need. At this situation, it is required for
them to satisfy desires of individual’s in order to effectively manage organisational activities.
These kind of practices leads to internal and external stakeholders of firm such as government
bodies, customer, investors, customer, employees and so on.
The influence of different stakeholders over the business objectives and profitability: In an
organisation, stakeholders play an essential role thus it is required for management to evaluate
their interest towards business activities. In respect of Marks and Spencer, it is required for firm
to implement such practices to by which they can gain desired profitability as:
Performance appraisal: In Marks and Spencer, management requires to implement
employee engagement practices as performance appraisal in order to provide them desired
satisfaction towards their job role (Beale and Hoel, 2011). These practices help in enhancing
productivity of employees at desired level. Management of Marks and Spencer provide
performance appraisals to their stakeholders in order to make an effective engagement with them
for a long run duration.
Quality of services: In respect of stakeholder satisfaction, it is required for firm to
provide quality services by analysing their requirements and need. All these practices help in

managing a long term relationship with them. Management of Marks and Spencer provides all
the desired services to their stakeholder that aid them to create desired situation in their own
favour.
Positive and negative impact of employee relations on different stakeholders
Employee relations is the term that mean employers effort for strengthen their employees.
Stakeholders Positive impact of employee relation Negative impact of employee relation
Investors Investors are the one of the stakeholders
which includes shareholders and debt
holders both. Investors are the external
stakeholders who have more power and
less interest in the company. In Marks
and Spencer, investors invest capital in
the business and expect to earn profits
from the business. This brings company
more capital and company works more
efficiently and effectively. This also
results in increasing productivity of the
organisation. And results in increasing
profits and revenue.
On the other side, if M& S did not
earn good profits and revenue then it
leads to decrease in its investors.
Because investors are the one who
brings capital for the business. So, if
they find that company is facing
losses then investors won't invest in
the company.
Customers Customers are the most important
stakeholders for every company. In
M&S, customer purchase variety of
products. Customers attract towards
company’s sales, marketing, public
relation and other strategies. And then
decides whether to buy product from that
place or not. Then on the other hand,
customer sees what type of quality
company is providing. As M&S is
As customer brings positive impacts
on the company, then can also be
impact negative on company. If
customers find dissatisfaction in
quality of a product, then it leads to
loss of the business. In M&S,
customers are the main reason by
which company exist. So if customer
doesn't find good quality of product or
services then they could switch to

knowing for its best quality, that's why
customer attract toads its brands.
Customer buying behaviour directly
impacts companies profit margin and
success.
some other company. So it is
necessary to listen to their complaints
and feedbacks.
Employees Employees are the instrumental assets of
every company. Good employee relation
results in good communication between
employer and employees. This increase
stability of business which is required for
continuous growth of an organisation.
Employees give their time and effort
which are called investments to increase
productivity of company. Marks and
Spencer provide proper training and
professional development to increase
companies’ profits and revenue.
Organisation provide them rewards,
bonus, good working environment and
training to increase their working
efficiency and satisfaction. This
satisfaction can directly impact the
productivity of business and results in
high profits.
Employees are one who can create
negative impact on employee
relations. This may result in business
loss. Because if employee is
dissatisfied by the employer’s
behaviour then there may be conflicts,
strikes in the organisation. To improve
employee’s relation, employers must
use performance appraisal, or training
and development method. This will
affect employee’s behaviour.
Employers must provide good
working environment to the
employees so that they work
effectively and efficiently in the
organisation. Likewise, if company
does not provide bonus or rewards for
their better performance, then this
demotivates employees and affect
internal environment and also results
in decreasing productivity.

CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been summarised that employment relationship play an
essential role in an organisation that assist in enhancing business profitability and productivity
effectively. In this regard, there are so many regulations and obligations are determined by the
employer in respect of their employee rights. All these practices assist in developing a positive
environment with the help of effective working policies. The workers or stakeholder of a firm are
managed by analysing their power and interest towards firm. The main objectives behind
analysing such is to evaluate their positive and negative influence in business decision making.

REFERENCES
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