people: employee relations

Question 1

why good employee relations?

Answer 1

• Staff stay at the firm so recruitment costs are lowered
• Any future changes are easy to introduce as communication is good
• The firm gets a good reputation which encourages qualified candidates to
  apply
• Customers sense the good atmosphere

Question 2

Consequences of poor employee relations

Answer 2

• Staff may leave and it is costly to readvertise and interview
• Any future changes will be difficult to introduce
• poor reputation deters good candidates from applying

Question 3

methods to achieve positive employee relations

Answer 3

• negotiation
• Consultative Committees Consultation
• arbitration
• worker directors
• workers councils
  quality circles

Question 4

cost of employee relations groups

Answer 4

• time
• money
• have to address concerns

Question 5

benefits of of employee relations groups

Answer 5

• keeps key stakeholder on the firm’ side
• change is easier to introduce

Question 6

grievance procedure

Answer 6

• raise the issue with their line manager
• speak to their union representative
• make a formal complaint in writing and seek a meeting
• take their grievance to ACAS for resolution

Question 7

how to solve the issue with their employee?

Answer 7

• privately talk
• listen to their point of view
• agreeing improvement to be made
• setting up training

Question 8

disciplinary steps

Answer 8

• a letter setting out the issue
• a meeting to discuss the issue
• a disciplinary decision
• a chance to appeal the decision

Question 9

before you dismiss an employee

Answer 9

• have a valid reason
• follow a full and fair procedure
• make a balanced, consistent and fair decision

Question 10

redundancy

Answer 10

• carefully select the member of staff
• send a ‘at risk redundancy letter’
• one-to-one meeting with management
• once decision made a formal meeting

Question 11

what do trade unions do?

Answer 11

• give financial advice to members regarding pensions
• negotiate on behalf of a lot of workers for better pay
• assist with grievance procedures by providing legal advice

Question 12

benefits of trade unions

Answer 12

• workers can check there rights and responsibilities
• prevents manager from exploiting workers
• alerts management’s attention to any problems

Question 13

benefits of acas

Answer 13

• ACAS does not benefit from the decision so is seen as final and with no bias
• can prevent a strike which will cripple the company
• ACAS is external so removes personal disagreements

Question 14

cost of ACAS

Answer 14

• lengthens the time of the dispute as ACAS has to collect a lot of data