Creating an Effective Employment Relations Strategy

A collective employment relations strategy aligned to the business strategy, and the organisation’s values and purpose, is critical in helping an organisation achieve its goals. The strategy that an organisation chooses is often rooted in the perspectives of organisational leaders and is shaped by the political, economic, social and technological context. This chapter focuses on employment relations strategies and makes the case for organisations to consciously articulate their approach to employment relations. We use practical examples to illustrate the different employment relations strategies adopted by organisations and link these to some key theoretical perspectives. Consequently, we explore the key factors that influence an organisation to review its approach to employment relations before focussing on how to bring the strategy to life through a practical implementation plan.