Assignment on Employee Relations

Introduction

Every workplace constitutes employers and employees due to which many times there are conflicts that arises due to various reasons. This concept is important as if there are conflicts among them then no productivity may occur in the organization and success of the organization would also be suffered. So it is important to identify the conflicts and perform corrective actions to resolve them in limited time period as if they are not resolved then success of the organization may hamper. So in this concern many theories are made and analyzed that is discussed in this assignment to resolve the grievances. Apart from that there are various ways to resolve the conflicts that are also discussed. Collective bargaining is the approach that is shown in presentation with its importance in resolving conflict.

Task 1

1.1 Unitary and pluralistic frames of reference

Employee relation is the important concept in the working of the organization. Managers and their employees suffer many conflicts as the interest may differ from time to time. But both of the parties want to make the organization in which they perform their work successful and long running as well. So various theorist has stated many theories in relation to the state of conflicts and criteria to resolve them also (Turek, 2015). There are various reasons for the origination of conflicts so theories are made in accordance to determine the root cause and make necessary amendments in that regards. Two such theories are the unitary and pluralistic theory that are explained below:

Unitary theory: Every theory has certain assumptions similarly this theory assume that there are no conflicts that are present in the organization in relation to employees and employers as they both of them has common interest for the organization. It was seen that there are seven aspects that covers this particular theory. They are explained below:

• Managers are the only persons that are authorized to manage the organization. No leaders are present that can create hurdles in the organization.
• Mangers are designated to make their employees committed towards their work so that these employees are productive for the organization.
• It is assume that there are no conflicts among the employees and managers and they all are working towards the goal making organization successful.
• Harmony can only be possible when there are strong leaders that can create there impact on the organization and its followers.
• For the betterment of the organization trade unions are not considered suitable approach to resolve the conflicts of the organization.
• Differences that occur in the organization between employer and employees are treated as the bad sign for the success of the organization. It is also assume that a good organization with effective working does not have any such issues.
• It is important for the betterment of the relationship among employees of the industry as well as this approach is independent (Tansel & Gazîolu, 2014).

There are many advantages of this theory as it showcases that organization does not consist any conflicts which implements that they all wants the success of the organization and its consistency. It also shows that all the employees are loyal to the organization and they do not have personal goals and objectives. This also helps the management of stakeholders as employees are also the imperative part of it. Another point is to consider is that leaders or the managers are the ultimate source of giving command so it is important that there work are effective and efficient that leads the organization to the success path. All the employees in the organization required to behave wisely so that mutual goals can be achieved effectively. There are certain disadvantages of this there are not always common goals. Due to competitive behavior this approach may not be useful.

Conflicts can be resolved by providing various incentives to the stakeholders in terms of financial and moral. Employees should be allowed to give certain designation in relation to the authority so that they may able to connect with organization. Various human resource techniques can be used to evolve better performance of the organization (Ntalianis, Dyer & Vandenberghe, 2015).

Pluralist theory:This theory states that there is the existence of difference of interest between employer and employees. This also states that there is the requirement of establishing trade unions so that employees’ perspectives and interest be showcased to the managers in a systematic manner. There are assumption in this concern that are listed below:

• There is the existence of different interest among the employees and employers.
• Leaders can be opposed on various occasions in the organization.
• Conflicts may be avoidable or non-avoidable. Most of the time they are unavoidable.
• Managers are required to solve these problems.
• Trade unions are legal and imperative to resolve the grievances and interest of the employees.
• Many amendments are done to accomplish the goals of the organization and to reduce the problems.

Trade unions are required to use all the fair means in dealing with the problems. Conflicts that are unavoidable should be given the priority to get resolve. Trade unions are the main sources for bargaining with the managers for the protection of interest. Rules and regulation should not be rigid to solve the problems (Mathew & Jones, 2012).

1.2 Assess how changes in trade unionism have affected employee relations.

Trade unions are the unions that are the representatives of employees to resolve the grievances. They are formed to ensure and protect the rights of the employees and workers working in the organization. They made certain bargains with the managements as and when needed to protect the members of trade unions. It came into legal existence in 1872 for the betterments of both employer and employees. Due to various emerging factors over the past decades has changed the perspectives of the trade unions that has affected employee relations like globalization, outsourcing etc. The main factors in that context are the shifting from public to private sector. Like these unions are contracted with the other contractors that may not be able to understand the problems of the members due to various barriers. Apart from that many women in the organization required rights so it is also become essential for these unions to accomplish the task. Similarly part time working in relation to women are also being concentrated. Employment act and labor law has boosted the trade unions. So employee relations are affected with the changed perspective to create the harmony among the employees and organization (Loretto, Lain & Vickerstaff, 2013).

1.3 Role of the key players in employee relations

An organization requires various persons for the running of the business. Sometimes that arise the conflicts among the employees and employers so various persons are required to perform the role of creating harmony among the organization for the effective working. So certain key players in this respect are mentioned as follows.

• Workers: Workers must be working towards the goals of making the organization successful. They should also not only focuses on the personal goals but also work towards the mutual goals. They should also try to resolve their grievances on time so that no conflict may arise in future.Workers should try to create a harmonize environment for better working.
• Managers: Managers should be effective leader. He must be role model to his followers. If he wants to create a harmony then it cannot act bias among its employees. No superiority complex should arise in mangers as it disconnects the employees from the managers. For the effective working leaders should encourage competition among employees but that competition must be healthy so that no conflict may arise among the employees. A good communications system is set up by the leader so that grievances and worries are resolved without hampering the work.
• Organizations: Organization must setup an effective and practical approach of communication that can be practiced by all the employees and employers. Communications and other aspects are made compulsory to be documented as they are reliable source. Strict rules and regulations must be formulated and implemented for punishing those who creates conflicts.
• Government agencies: These agencies mustformulate and implement laws and regulations that would enable a proper employee relationship. Apart from that supervise the works of trade unions so that no unfair means are taken into consideration. These agencies must work with integrity to achieve its goal. A harmonize environment can only be created if there proper working from the government agencies (Larsen & Navrbjerg, 2015).

Task 2

2.1 Procedure for dealing with different conflict by employer.

There may occurrence many conflicts that may arise among the employees and the organization that can cause the trouble to the organization at large. So it is important that these conflicts be resolved by the employer. Various steps are followed by employer to solve the problem. These steps are illustrated below:

• Understanding the problem: conflicts may arise at any time in the organization by the employee or among the employees. So it is important to understand the situation to the maximize level of solving grievances and conflicts. In this case, BMA are against the new contract that result of their vote out from it. So employer has to understand the problem and situation in this concern.
• Collection of relevant dat: Data is collected from the sources to analyze the problem more effectively. Employer cannot take decision without any the information in that concern. Here in this case, employer has to collect all the data that leads to dissatisfaction among the BMA.
• Analyzing the data: Now from the collection of all the data from all the relevant sources the next step is to analyze the data so that problems are solved in an effective and efficient manner. This is done by employer to identify the root cause of the conflict and making decisions to solve the problems simultaneously. Here in this case, employer has to analyze the root cause of such behavior in relation to the contract that is about to be implemented by the government.
• Make imperative steps: All the necessary steps that would help the employer to solve the problem be taken into account. It is also important that these steps be taken within the time limit as if it crosses the time limit then problem may increase to a great level that may not be solved by the employer in time. In this case, NHS has to deal and negotiate with the BMA to resolve the grievances. They also have to make necessary changes if required to solve the problems by making certain changes in the contact.
• Implement those changes: These changes that may resolve the dispute be made properly and then be implemented in proper time period. These changes made should be taken into consideration by considering interest at large. It is also important that changes may not harm or create more conflicts in the organization. In this case, BMA point of view is required to be considered by NHS to make necessary changes in the contract. These changes should be decided in the mutual interest of all the parties associated with it (Koca-Helvaci, 2015).

2.2 Explain the key features of employee relations consultant with reference to the above conflict situation.

Industrial relations are important for the effective working of the organization. If the organizational wants to successful then it is important that it make necessary improvement from time to time for harmonize environment of working. Many conflictsarise in the organization and the work place so it is important that these problems be solved within time period.

In this case, NHS is the organization and BMA is the association of the junior doctors. BMA is not satisfied with the contract that was already running due to which they decided to withdraw there name from this contract. In regards to the objection, a new contract was formulated but that again not able to satisfy the demands and the requirement of the association. Now they are planning strikes in this regards. So as per the case study certain features in relation to case study can be pointed out. These key features are listed below-

• Ideological framework: These are the set of rules that incorporates the working of any organization. In this case, organization is the national health and safety that works in the health and safety of the people. This organization is following all the rules and regulation that are prescribed in the contract.
• Conflicts and cooperation: The conflict is the contract that increase thedissatisfaction among the junior doctors. They are not happy with its formulation and now require changes in it. But NHS and government are not satisfied with the demand. Now the BMA has decided 4 strikes against it. There is cooperation among the members of the association for the success of the strike.
• Consultation: A law suit is planned by the BMA to meet its demands in relation to the contract. They want the removal of the contract that was formulated after the previous disapproval of the contract. They are planning to file a law suit along with compensation in this regards. Apart from that strikes are also planned in this concern.
• Negotiation: A negotiation may occur in future in that context. It is important that negotiation must be made by taking all the interest into consideration. Negotiation was made by taking the interest of patient as the priority by stopping the strike that was planned earlier (Griffin, Bryant & Koerber, 2015).

2.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of procedures followed so far from both parties in this conflict situation.

When the conflicts arise between the parties then it became important that these conflicts be solved without any wrong means and force. It is important that the conflicts that are resolved are in a systematic manner as if any unfair means are used by the parties then there are chances that desired and appropriate result in that context may not be extracted that would ultimately leads to damage at large to the people who are highly affected with it. In this case, both the parties are trying to come on the mutual place so that no person is affected at large.

BMA is the association that is not happy with the contact that is about to get implemented so it is trying to make various efforts to stop the contract. It is planning to file a law suit which is legal in nature. It is also planning for around 4 strikes to get the desired result. There criteria are legal but with the strike, patients will be affected the most as the working will be effective. So it must not go to strike as they can simply file the law suit against the contract and carry out with their operations.

NHS is the organization which is also the employer of the members of the BMA. It is on the favor of the contract that is about to be implemented by the government. But due to the reluctance shown by the BMA this contract is not able to come into force till now. They have planned a proper and legal procedure in there context of working. They are also taking all the necessary steps to stop the legal proceeding as it may hamper the goodwill of the party. Apart from that company also trying there level best to stop the strike. But there efforts are not proper as 4 strikes are planned by the BMA that would affect the working of the organization and ultimately affect the patients at large (Griffin, Bryant & Koerber, 2015).

Task 3

3.1 Explain the role of negotiation in collective bargaining as in the above conflict.

It is the way in which there is the negotiation between the employer and the union in which all the necessary criteria that are required for the mutual benefit are present. It is important for the effective working of the organization. So it can be said that this is the approach through which conflicts can be resolved properly. Importance of the collective bargaining is mentioned below:

• It helps to boost up employees moral value and it also increase the rate of productivity to work hard.
• It helps to maintain the power among employees that they have certain position in the organization.
• It also helps in self-preservation of the esteem of the employee that ultimately creates a great opportunity for success of the organization.
• By this bargaining there is the better communication that enables the better working of the organization.
• It also helps to prevent the conflicts that can cause the damage to the people and the organization at large.

In this case, there is the conflict of interest between the NHS and BMA that results in the dispute that hamper the working of the organization. With the negotiation in the Collective bargaining of the conflict a better and harmonized planned contract may be created that would help the organization as well as the association to come to a mutual consent about the contract. Along with it strike and legal suit against the NHS may be avoided that can be helpful for the organization reputation. It would also help the patients who may suffer from this strike (Gill & Meyer, 2013).

3.2 Assess the impact of the negotiation strategies adopted by both parties in the above conflict situation and comment on other negotiating strategies and the potential impact it could have.

Resolving of conflicts required certain negotiation strategy that would both the parties to mutual consent. There is various negotiating strategy that can help to solve the problems and there impact is also a very important. As all the negotiation is documented so it becomes the reliable source for the future problems that may occur with the same effect. It also helps to create a better chances of the harmonize environment for the effective working of the organization. It also showcases the leaders that may enable the union to keep trust on it. It also increases the strength of unity among the union.

In this case, both parties are trying their best to come to a mutual understanding in which both the parties would be able to be fine with their situation. It is also important that they do not want to hamper the interest of the patients due to which BMA has decided to stop there strikes. NHS is making necessary adjustment in the contract that would help the organization in the long run of the business. With the negotiation there are chances that a harmonize business environment be created in which the employee relationship be increased and productivity of the organization will also increase (Bose & Mudgal, 2013).

Task 4

Presentation

Conclusion

Employee relation is the important concept that cannot be avoided by the organization and the management. So it became necessary that the best theory be implemented by the organization to create a harmony among the employees and employers. Unitary and pluralistic theory has its own significance but the best theory must be adopted by the organization for better working. Apart from that trade union must use the best practices for safeguarding the interest of its members. All the key players must use their best practice to enhance the harmony. The best strategy for the removal of conflict is recommended for the parties in this conflict with all fair means. A collective bargaining is the best approach to get the desired result.

References

Bose, I. & Mudgal, R.K. 2013, "Employee relations climate in leather industry in Kolkata", Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 13.
Gill, C. & Meyer, D. 2013, "Union presence, employee relations and high performance work practices", Personnel Review, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 508-528.
Griffin, J.J., Bryant, A. & Koerber, C.P. 2015, "Corporate Responsibility and Employee Relations: From External Pressure to Action", Group & Organization Management, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 378-404.
Koca-Helvaci, Z.C. 2015, "Walmart and its employee relations: organizational stance-taking and legitimacy", On the Horizon, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 374-386.
Larsen, T.P. & Navrbjerg, S.E. 2015, "The economic crisis: Testing employee relations", Economic and Industrial Democracy, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 331-353.
Loretto, W., Lain, D. & Vickerstaff, S. 2013, "Rethinking retirement: changing realities for older workers and employee relations?", Employee Relations, vol. 35, no. 3.
Mathew, S.K. & Jones, R. 2012, "Satyagraha and employee relations", Employee Relations,vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 501-517.