What is employee relations, and what does it mean in today’s corporate climate? Employee relations is an important ideal and cultural pillar in the modern workplace. It is a management style emphasizing cooperation to improve the office environment for everyone present. But how does that lofty ideal transfer into tangible actions and results? Let’s talk about it.
What Is Employee Relations in HR?
Ultimately, employee relations is a program owned and promoted by a Human Resources (HR) department to improve interactions and relationships between employees and their employers. While the focus of individual HR employee relations plans may differ between companies, most programs emphasize communication, policies and discipline, psychological safety, conflict resolution, and performance and development.
For those wondering, “What is employee relations in HR?” and what it looks like in action, the HR department is integral to upholding worker’s rights, ensuring both corporations and employees are treated fairly, and fostering a safe environment for feedback. Real-world examples of employee relations include non-biased performance evaluations, anonymous employee surveys, clear corporate policies, interventions, conflict resolutions, and more. While HR is often the spearhead of employee relations, it takes the cooperation of the whole organization for policies to work effectively.
Why Implement Employee Relations?
First and foremost, employees who feel their rights are protected, are given growth opportunities, receive good communication, understand policies, and experience other benefits from positive employee relations show more engagement. In turn, teams most highly engaged at work show 21% greater profitability than their disengaged counterparts. Not only are disengaged employees less profitable, but they cost the company more money—up to $550 billion, to be exact. Therefore, it is in the employers’ best interest to prioritize HR employee relations.
Beyond profitability, corporations that implement employee relations also experience better retention among their workforce. A recent study found that employees who feel recognized by their companies for their efforts are six times more likely to stay in their current position. While compensation is important, offering perks and recognition structures can foster feelings of trust and goodwill between employees and employers and mitigate restlessness. Not only does this mean keeping high-performing team members, but retention also cuts out the time-consuming process of finding and training replacements.
Finally, companies with strong employee relations programs in place often maintain better reputations and brand management. Favorable word of mouth can be a powerful tool in attracting top talent and building positive feelings with customers. Employees who feel seen, heard, and appreciated are more likely to speak well of their employer, trust their leadership, and by extension, promote a stronger reputation with the public.
Employee Relations Certification
While employee relations programs are critical to a company’s success, they often tackle large, intangible concepts that can be difficult to implement. Encouraging HR employees to earn an employee relations certification or take a professional micro-course can give departments the needed training to understand essential principles and incorporate them in a corporate environment. Completing the right employee relations certification program allows professionals to learn new, specialized skills, deepen their practical knowledge, and improve existing structures within a company.
Let HREN Help Your HR Employee Relations
From asking, “What is employee relations?” to designing and incorporating a successful program, let HR Education Network (HREN) help you to the next step. Our employee relations micro-credential course features six modules of thorough instruction followed by a test for competency. Learn more about maintaining a harmonious environment, addressing accommodations, coaching and counseling, and balancing employee rights while earning six credits toward SHRM and HRCI certification. Completing our micro-credential course earns you a digital badge that you can add to your social profiles and resume.
