What is Employee Relations? | Meaning & Definition | Akrivia HCM

Employee Relations (ER) is one of the significant factors that affect business performance. Employees can be happy and satisfied at work only when they get all the essential benefits and training and are motivated to go the extra mile. ER aims to achieve a positive relationship between employer and employees by focusing on employees’ emotional and physical well-being.

What is employee relations' role?

Employee relations is a function that maintains the positive relationship between employers, employees, and labor unions. An employee relations officer works on finding solutions to problems that arise in an organization or with employees to be resolved on time. They are responsible for conducting surveys and making changes based on their findings. They also develop employee benefits and compensation policies, conduct seminars, and provide consultation services to management.

What types of employee relations are there?

The types of employee relations are as follows:
1. Vertical Employee relation: these are top to bottom relationships. An example of this is manager-employee relations.

2. Horizontal Employee relation: this is the relationship that spreads across on the same level in a company. It includes the relations between team members.

3. Cross-functional Employee relations: this is when managers and subordinates of different departments work together—for example, the marketing department with the finance department, the human resource department with the production department, etc.

What does employee relations entail?

Employee relations is a company’s department responsible for all aspects of its relationship with employees. It is a relationship between management and the workforce, focusing on several areas, including

Employment law and employee rights.
Union negotiations and employee contracts
Disciplinary actions to correct improper employee actions such as theft, harassment, and discrimination
Equal employment opportunity (EEO)
Employee morale and satisfaction
Recruitment efforts
Solutions to problems between management and employees

What are some significant pillars of employee relations?

There are three major pillars of employee relations:

Organizational Culture,
Employee Engagement, and
Workplace Investigations

Each of these areas is crucial to maintaining a healthy worker-organization relationship. These pillars support an organization’s core values and help maintain an environment conducive to success for both the employee and employer.

What are the benefits of good employee relations?

The benefits of good employee relations include:
1. Happier workers.
2. Increased profitability.
3. Improved company image.
4. Consistent operations.
5. Fewer errors and accidents due to proper training.
6. Stronger bonds between employees and managers and among coworkers.

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