Employment Relations

Ian MejiaRedfield College

2009

Syllabus the nature of employment relations • stakeholders in the employment relations process —

employers, employees, employer associations, unions, government organisations

• managing the employment relations function – line management and specialist key influences on employment relations • social influences — changing work patterns, population

shifts • legal influences — overview of major employment

legislation • new organisational behavioural influences — flat

management and team structures • economic influences — economic cycle, globalisation

Employment Relations IS…

The effective management of employees, concerned with how employees and employers behave and interact in the workplace.

The Development

Employees VS Employers Profits VS Wages Revenue VS Low Costs

This can lead to conflicts hence the Government will sometimes need to intervene, to set a legal framework and provide dispute resolution.

Evolution

Labor party politics vs Liberal party politics Unionism Awards Centralised Wage Fixing Globalisation and multiskilling Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)

Workplace Relations Act

Australian Workplace Agreements

-individual contracts Certified Agreements

-collective agreements

Who are the stakeholders in employment relations?

Stakeholders

Employees Employers Unions Employer Associations Government (Federal and State) Government Organisations

Government Organisations

Industrial Tribunal Office of Workplace Services (OWS) Australian Fair Pay Commission Industrial Tribunals

Aspects of Employment Relations

OH&S Training and Development Employee selection Wage negotiations Grievances and Disputes Employee recruitment

Managing Employment Relations

Scenario:You are a relatively new member of a banking team. You have a date with your

girlfriend in the afternoon and want to hurry home to shower and change. You sneak out of work a little early and head to the carpark. You sneak into your car and check if the coast is clear to leave. Before you leave you notice another car leaving the car park. It is your supervisor.

As the other car is leaving the carpark he scrapes the side of his car against the car adjacent to him. It leaves a large scratch and small dent. You notice the car is a BMW and looks extremely similar to your bosses car. The car who hit him, is aware he scratched the other car but not aware you are watching. He quickly drives away.

What do you do?

A) Confront your supervisor B) Leave an anonymous note including the details of your supervisorC) Inform the boss above himD) Inform the boss above him but remain anonymous

Human Resource Management

The human side of business i.e. employees, are a resource. That is, they are valuable assets that help and work with the business.

They are no longer seen as against the organisation or a cost.

Avoiding problems before the happen.

Long term relationships with employers.

Internal or External

HR may be internal, such as having a Human Resource Department as a support service

HR may be external where a consultant may be called in.

Social Influences

Australian Culture – “fair go” Artificially high wages Reducing support for unions Employment Relations focused on returns

Social Influences 1

Changing work patterns

-type of work

-hours

-number of days

This has lead to informal employment relations, less training, less job security, higher turnover, and lower unionisation.

Social Influences 2

The Aging Labour Force

- people working longer in their lives

- need for training and re-training

- OHS issues

- Flexible working hours

Social Influences 3

Population Shifts

- female employment

- Sex Discrimination Act 1984

- Family friendly work policies

- multiculturalism

Legal Influences

Employment contracts Types of contracts Legislation

Employment Contract

A legally binding agreement with the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

Does not need to be written, but should be.

Types of Contracts

Certified Agreements (CA) Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) Over 20% on awards 40% on CA 40% on AWA

Major Legislations

Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ‘Work Choices’ –see page 240 of text Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Injury Management

Behavioural Influences

Hierarchy vs Flat Team structures

Economic Influences

Economic Cycle

-demand for good and services

-need for workers

-flexible employment Globalisation

-decentralisation

-international competition

-brain drain