Employee Relations Report: Conflict Resolution and Negotiation in NHS

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of employee relations within the National Health Service (NHS). It begins by exploring the unitary and pluralistic frames of reference, highlighting the NHS's preference for the unitary approach. The report then examines the impact of trade unions on employee relations, emphasizing the role of negotiation and the influence of macro-environmental factors. Key players in employee relations, including employers, employees, trade unions, and the government, are discussed, outlining their respective roles. The report delves into conflict resolution procedures, such as conciliation, arbitration, and mediation, and analyzes key features of employee relations in different conflict situations, including misrepresentation, fraud, and theft. It assesses the effectiveness of dispute resolution procedures and the role of negotiation in collective bargaining. Furthermore, the report investigates the influence of the EU on industrial democracy and the methods used to gain employee participation and involvement in decision-making. Finally, it examines the impact of the HRM approach on employee relations, providing a holistic understanding of the dynamics at play within the NHS.

EMPLOYEE RELATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Unitary and Pluralistic frames...............................................................................................1
1.2 Effect of change in Trade union on employee relations.......................................................2
1.3 Role of main players.............................................................................................................3
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Procedure for resolving conflict............................................................................................4
2.2 Key features of employee relations for different conflict situations.....................................5
2.3 Effectiveness of procedures followed in resolving disputes.................................................7
3.1 Role of negotiation plays in collective bargaining................................................................8
3.2 Negotiation strategies and its impact....................................................................................8
PART 3............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Influence of EU on industrial democracy and its change after UK exit EU.........................9
4.2 Methods to gain employee participation and involvement in decision making process.....10
4.3 Impact of HRM approach on employee relations...............................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Each and every kind of association has to maintain employee relation at their workplace
because staff members are considered as the most essential part of organisation (Employee
relations, 2016). It is required for manager to satisfy needs and wants of their workers. Relation
of workers can be characterized as an effective connection in between firm, employees and
employers (George, 2015). As a result, they can maintain peace at workplace and therefore, they
can attain the desired targets and objectives effectively and efficiently. Present assignment is
based on NHS which is established in the United Kingdom. They are maintaining an appropriate
interaction between their staff members. Fundamental purpose of this report is to determine
frames of references which are linked with employee relations. It is needed for manager to
resolve issues of firm appropriate; thus, they can accomplish their task within minimum period
of time. Along with this, there are many duty of negotiation strategies is going to discussed in
this assignment. Influence of human resource management can affect ER also.
PART 1
1.1 Unitary and Pluralistic frames
There are two major references get used by every organization which enable in making
healthy and friendly relation with employees. The two major forms are: Unitary and Pluralistic. Unitary: According to this perspective all employees have common interest and objective
for which they are working. Issues and problems between superior and subordinates have
to get managed properly with the help of leaders and managers (Kilroy and Dundon,
2015). Workers have to maintain friendly relationship and try to resolve conflicts without
make any sort of trade union. Unitary format support them in making healthy relationship
so that each task get done properly by binding each and every function. Unitary approach
signifies the single thing and interest not every person will different from each other.
Thus, its a major reason behind less and less issues and conflict.
 Pluralistic: All the employees have different working direction and interest towards
accomplishing a single objective of a firm. Thus, the chances of conflicts in an entity are
high and more in number because every person is different each other. Unitary
management support in reducing the chances of conflicts which enable them in doing all
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things in an appropriate manner rather than using pluralistic. Hence, management plays
an effective role in such consent by make their employees satisfied.
NHS have to use unitary approach of management in making effective employee relation. Thus,
for this human resource manager plays and effective role (Williams and Horodnic, 2015). They
are in direct relation with each and every individual so that they are better to know about the
chances of conflicts between them. Along with this, national health trust managers have to play
effective role in reducing the chances of issues. Thus, another major thing which will get done is
to analyses the needs and requirement of each of their members through which management
become able to take frequent decision for satisfying them. Management of NHS always deny to
use trade union approach in their business because it affect the most working and operations of
company. Thus, their patient will not get the proper services from their staff members. This is the
major reason that they are more concerning about Unitary approach rather than Pluralistic
format.
1.2 Effect of change in Trade union on employee relations
Trade union is a association which which focus on saving interest of employees and
employer in an business organization. It define the legal action regrading the firm who co not
provide basis rights to its workers. The main purpose is trade union is to protect the employees
interest at the workplace so that they easily perform their task in effective manner (Cooper and
Baird, 2015). National health care service bound to follow all the rules and regulation which is
set by the trade union so that every employee get fair treatment at the workplace.
In this trade union play an important role in negotiation process which define between
employer and employees to protect employees rights and their interest. It affect the employees
relation because it maintain the healthy relation by providing fare remuneration. All these rules
are set according to employee prospects so that every worker satisfy with their duties and rights.
If any organization does not follow all the rules that government authorities tale strict action for
cited firm. They use trade union to maintain better relationship among all the employees and get
their commitment to provide effective as well as desirable results in appropriate manner. This
process aid in achieving organization goals and objectives in appropriate time period.
There are some factors related to macro environment which are mentioned as below:
Political and legal: If an employer of company is imposing new legislation in firm then it
can also provide affect to relations of labours. Like regulatory body can create some policies
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which will give same opportunities to labours. This will enhance chance of dispute among
superiors and subordinates. If company is not fulfil all rules and regulations which are
formulated by government then it can affect their reputation at marketplace and as a result their
market share get reduced (Zheng and et. al., 2015).
Technological: If firm is implementing new methods into their business then it can
reduce demand of workers at workplace. Thus, retrenchment approach can adopted by an
enterprise. If this kind of condition is there in organisation then trade union will protect them.
Therefore, it caters adverse affect to their reputation.
1.3 Role of main players
It is required for National Health Services to maintain healthy relations amongst
employer and employees. For this purpose, administrative department can implement some
strategies. There are several players who play their role to manage employee relations which are
mentioned as below:
Employer:  It is important for the manager to create friendly relations with
their subordinates as they assist firm to accomplish their targets
and objectives effectually.
 To maintain appropriate relations with staff members, they have
to provide better workplace to them so that they will complete
their task in an efficient manner (Larson, 2017).
 Superiors have to give them motivation to improve their work
efficiency and for this, they can arrange training and
development programmes for them.
Employee:  Workers have to cooperate with their colleagues. They need to
maintain an effective communication with each other and thus,
they can share their thoughts which is beneficial for an
organisation.
 By maintaining cooperation, they can do their task in group
with an adequate manner. Along with this, it reduces the
chances of of conflicts.
Trade union:  Their fundamental duty is to secure privilege of labours from
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any sort of exploitation in the working environment.
 They promote both kind of welfare; individual as well as
collective.
 Enhance opportunities which is associated with training and in
addition promotion (Katou, 2015).
 They will demand better working environment for their
members.
Employer association:  They can aid their members to solve clashes in organisation.
 They will provide advice to their members to maintain an
appropriate employee relation.
Government:  Regulatory body can also affect relations of workers either
directly or indirectly. They have to formulate those kind of laws
which protect the interest of staff members.
 Government can develop rules and regulations and thus, they
can secure individuals from any kind of discrimination
(Schlechter, Thompson and Bussin, 2015).
PART 2
2.1 Procedure for resolving conflict
In an association, there are numerous individuals who do work together and they have
distinctive thoughts and interest. If in company difficulties arise then it will lead disputes. As
they all possess different values and ideas. Therefore, it is required for superior to resolve every
kind of clashes in firm as it affect their profits and in addition reputation. For above stated
purpose, they can use an adequate process which will help them to deal with many circumstances
of distinctive nature (Rubery, 2015). It is required for superiors to sort out every difficulties on a
specific time frame as it may reduce their productiveness as well as sales. There are many
principles which can be utilized by firm to solve issues, these are stated as beneath:
Conciliation: To resolve problems of an association, manager can take assistance of third
party. Conciliation is considered as 3rd party which help parties to sort out
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their issues which occurred amongst them.
Arbitration: It is like a proper procedure and with aid of this both parties can easily take
judgement for their betterment.
Meditation: Every difficulty need some sort of suggestions which can be provided by any
individual. He or she can give some effective ideas or recommendations to
persons which will help them to resolve clashes (Plester, Cooper-Thomas and
Winquist, 2015).
National Health Services can use two kind of process; thus, they can solve problems
amongst parties. With assistance of this adequate steps can be taken and along with this proper
justification can be given regarding issues. Hence, there is description of two procedures which
can be utilized by company to solve difficulties:
Formal procedure
As indicated by this process entire activities or
things get done in an adequate way. Therefore,
both parties can appoint an arbitrator which
will assist them to solve disputes and problems
effectively (Yi and et. al., 2015).
According to this, people can create a
committee which will help them to sort out
difficulties of individuals.
Therefore, National Health Services can utilize one of above described methodology to
solve their issues amongst superior as well as subordinates. As a result, they will do their task
adequately with aim of enhancing services quality so that they can improve their customer base.
2.2 Key features of employee relations for different conflict situations
It is fundamental for an employer to manage their dispute circumstances in an effective
manner. If there is any sort of activities like this, them it can affect their patients. Therefore,
several kind of offences are discussed as beneath:
 Misrepresentation
 Fraud
 Undue influences
 Theft
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 Corruption
There are various targets on which company needs to work, are discussed as beneath:
 They have to give information regarding any criminal offence to their employees and in
addition manager need to cater them some advice related to fraudulent activities
(Jennings, McCarthy and Undy, 2017).
 Superior can hold account of those individuals who commit any kind of offensive
exercise.
In contrast of relations of employee to reduce or eliminate clashes from firm an employer need to
discuss about issues with their labours. As disputes can affect relationship of people with other
and which can provide impact to working of company. Fundamental purpose of problem is that
workers are against to other staff members who are working in similar association. For example:
male employees are not satisfied with working of female staffs. As a result, there is foremost
difficulty which is determined is, discrimination at premises. Many of the times, superior allot
work to them not according to their capabilities but as per their gender. This will decrease their
morale. Hence, productivity of company get low which affect their goodwill at marketplace
adversly.
As indicated by provided contextual analysis there is clashes amongst BMS, superiors of
NHS and in addition government since these parties have distinctive suppositions regarding
authorization of legislations, standards as well as convictions (Townsend and Loudoun, 2015).
Doctors who are working with BMS do not want any sort of modification in existing laws as it
can influence their lifestyle and along with this routine work. Rather than this, regulatory body
wants to impose new legislation in nation because it eliminates disparity.
There are several key features in context of employee relations for variant conflict
conditions are mentioned as below:
 It is fundamental to develop better and effective understanding amongst superior as well
as subordinates.
 Employer needs to give work to staff members without any form of discrimination. They
have to cater them work as per their skills and capabilities.
 Every workers have to maintain cooperation with each other (Plester and Hutchison,
2016).
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Therefore, it has been comprehended that by managing above mentioned things in company,
manager can easily reduce conflicts. As a result, entire work will accomplished within minimum
time frame and they can attain coveted targets and goals effectively.
2.3 Effectiveness of procedures followed in resolving disputes
Negotiation procedure is much adequate as well as helpful; as with assistance of this
clashes will sort out appropriately. National Health Services are providing social services to
people which is connected to protect rights of staff members and they can do it by imposing
some form of strategies. It is essential for an employer to resolve issues systematically so that
they can easily eliminate obstacles (Sharma, Sharma and Agarwal, 2016). With help of
negotiation procedure manager can determine current problems of firm. Hence, by using process
superior can solve conflicts in various manner, which is discussed as beneath:
Satisfaction: Employer needs to satisfy both parties through imposing helpful solutions
so that they can maintain healthy relationship amongst them.
Problem solving: With aid of negotiation process, manager has to destruct visible and
along with this invisible obstructions as it can affect operations of company.
Creation of positive communication: It is must to develop an open and affirmative
communication at workplace so that individuals can easily share their view and thoughts with
each other.
Maintaining future relation: It is necessary for an employer to keep up an effective
relationship among both parties.
Follow appropriate steps: It assists to eliminating errors which can be arise at the time of
procedure of negotiation. For this purpose, an employer needs to consider entire facts efficiently.
Accuracy: If activities are imposed appropriately, then an enterprise will get more
adequate result (Brown and Brown, 2017).
Consideration of factors: To solve clashes it is required for manager to consider both
kind of elements intrinsic as well as extrinsic. As they both are interconnected with each other.
As per provided scenario overall work is divided as there is some dispute amongst BMS,
managers of NHS and governing body. Thus, it is must to arrange task appropriately to resolve
problems. For above stated purpose superior will:
 They can plan entire exercises adequately so that they can easily remove upcoming
mistakes.
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 Manager needs to organise everything in an appropriate way.
 They can enforce some programmes as it develops positive relation amongst parties.
NHS is an organisation which is securing rights of people and for thus they are applying
many sorts of ideas or strategies. Therefore, as per provided scenario, it is necessary to impose
adequate process to sort out issues amongst disputed parties (Ahmad and Allen, 2015).
3.1 Role of negotiation plays in collective bargaining
With aid of bargaining and along with this negotiation management can easily develop
agreement with workers. It will done if they are not much happy with their salary and some
additional facilities. By using this procedure superior can maintain equality and fairness at
workplace. According to collective negotiation staff members can easily arrange meeting with
managers. As a result, they can share their problems with them appropriately. This all will
happen effectively with aid of labour union. When it is set up properly then individuals can
communicate with each other regarding their issues. This will connected to system of labour and
payment methods. It is known as collective bargaining. This methods is much useful for
company as with aid of this entire clashes will resolve systematically. Grudges will be address in
team rather than personally (Shields and et. al., 2015). It will provide motivation to labours who
are working in firm. Along with this, it is must for an organisation to use an appropriate
communication system at premises so that workers will participate in decision making process.
To resolve disputes between both parties manager can take assistance of helpful components.
NHS is providing best and effective services to people across the world. There working
process is much wider. Along with this, they have too many workers who are working with them
and this number is high as compare to other associations. They can use some sort of
methodologies to increase their administrations. Manager are satisfying demands of their
employees and in addition they invite them to be a part of decision making procedure.
Hence, by utilizing effective techniques, employers and employees can easily secure their
rights. It will enhance their productivity as well as sales (Thunnissen, 2016).
3.2 Negotiation strategies and its impact
As per provided case study, it is essential for manager to discuss about everything so that
they can easily resolve disputes which are incur amongst British medical organisation, staff
members of NHS as well as junior doctors. To solve entire issues or any sort of confusion
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amongst parties, government will implement procedure which is related to negotiation. There are
several strategies in this context which are stated as beneath:
Yielding: As indicated by this, it is changeable evaluating methodology which is
basically rely on conduct of another gathering towards any specific subject as well as
obstructions. Actually this plan is predominantly in view of response of two gatherings which
can provide impact to contractual worker; therefore, he can resolve clashes (Ruuskanen, Selander
and Anttila, 2016).
Comprising: According to this, parties can compromise because of any reason. Like as
per the provided situation medical organisation and in addition workers of NHS need to
cooperate as this conflict affect their productiveness and entire day of individuals. Hence, when
parties are not much happy with judgements then they both need to compromise on some point,
this will called as compromising.
Competing: It means both parties are contending with each other and their target is to
obtain maximum cost. Indeed this methodology is view as forceful framework which is treating
procedure of negotiation as zero sum. This method can be utilized by firm; thus, they can
motivate their workers so that they can accomplish coveted objectives and compete their rivals at
competitive world.
Problem solver: It is much connected with compromising as well as competing. As their
main aim is to consider other party also while taking decision.
Rather than this, it has been comprehended that it is most appropriate procedure and
includes different plans, thoughts, views and in addition strategies; therefore, entire disputes can
be sorted out within time (Thakur and et. al., 2017).
Clashes amongst BMS and labours of NHS needs an adequate procedure which is
connected to negotiation; hence, they can clear uncertainty of partied through accomplishing
their needs. With assistance of this, they can also eliminate their obstructions and problems.
PART 3
4.1 Influence of EU on industrial democracy and its change after UK exit EU
Modern majority rules system characterizes hones which are related with political
arrangement and it is for both prevalent and also subordinate of organization. All activities are
apply according to business as it were. It will provide food many sorts of points of interest to a
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