Employee relations in HR refers to an organizations efforts to create and maintain a positive relationship with its employees. The primary functions of employee relations are to prevent and resolve problems or disputes between employees and management, and to create and enforce policies that are fair and consistent for everyone in the workplace. Employee relations is a specific HR discipline that focuses on building strong, positive interpersonal relationships between employees, and between employees and management.
Some key features of employee relations in HR include:
- Conflict resolution: Employee relations managers are responsible for resolving conflicts between employees and management quickly and effectively.
- Policy setting: Employee relations managers assist in creating and enforcing policies that are fair and consistent for everyone in the workplace.
- Building a positive workplace culture: Employee relations managers work to create a constructive work environment that increases employee engagement, productivity, and trust.
- Managing the employee-employer relationship: Employee relations managers govern the employee-employer relationship to form mutual respect, trust, and appreciation.
Employee relations is an essential aspect and responsibility of HR. While HR is the broader operation that directs all aspects of managing an organizations workforce and work environment, including recruiting, training and development, compensation and benefits, and health and safety, employee relations is a specialized function that factors in the entire employee experience to maintain the organizations relationship with the employees and their interactions with each other.
To get a job in an employee relations role, one may need a bachelors or graduate degree in human resources, employee relations, or a related field, as well as an HR certification or prior consulting experience. It will also help to cultivate skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities.
