A2- Workplace Relations Flashcards
Workplace relations
The interactions between employers and employees, or their representatives, to achieve a set of working conditions that will meet the needs of employees as well as allowing the business to achieve its goal
Workplace relations done well
The goal of workplace relations is to achieve positive relationships, in which enp,oyees are satisfied with their pay and work conditions, the business can remain productive and competitive, and disputes are kept to a minimum
-Businesses with effective workplace relations tend to manger change more successfully, enhancing their ability to gain a sustainable competitive advantage
Participants in the workplace: Employees
-employees are increasingly negotiating
employment arrangments in closely involved when there are new or changed arrangements
-individual employment contracts
-Can be called upon to approve a new agreement that has been negotiated on behalf of all employees by a representative (unions)
-When negotiating break down employees may take industrial action e.g strikes
Participants in the workplace: Human resource managers
-negotiation of employment agreements with employees and their representatives
-training of staff
-implementation of agreement
-dealing with disputes
Participants in the workplace: Unions
-Organisations formed by the employees in an industry, trad or occupation to represent them in efforts to improve wages and the working conditions for their members
-another role is to work with management to help resolve workplace issues, acting as an advocate for employees
-Unions will also investigate suspected breaches of laws, discrimination laws or workplace safety laws.
Participants in the workplace: Employer associations
-organisations that represent and assist employer groups
-They take on the responsibility of keeping members informed of the implications of legislative changes and assisting members in negotiating workplace agreements that are consistent with legislation. E.G. Master Builders Assocaions, the Australian retailers association and the Australian mines and metals associations.
The Fair Work Commission
The FWC is Aus national workplace tribunal that has the power to carry a range of functions under the Fair Work Act 2009
-The FWC is responsible for making awards in the national workplace relations system.
-It approves agreements reached between employers and employees at the enterprise level ensuring that all parties comply with these agreements.
INDEPENDENT: not on employee or employers side
FWC Can also
-help parties resolve workplace disputes when nonagreement can be reached through conciliation, mediation and arbitration
-deal with applications in relation to unfair dismissal
-administer the regulations in relation to unfair dismissal
-review and set a minimum wage level for the lowest-paid workers through its minimum wage panel (MWP)
