London: A campaign launched at Westminster last night by the Employee Relations Institute asks UK employers to commit to implementing key workplace standards laid out by the Institute:
Meaningful engagement of employees and their representatives in matters that affect them
Commitment to continuously improve employee relations skills in the workplace
Openness, honesty and transparency in workplace communications
Commitment to building and maintaining trust and respect in the workplace.
The “How well do we manage?” campaign, being spearheaded by the Employee Relations Institute (ERI), calls on employers to invest in the skills and competence of line managers to help maintain and improve workplace relations in UK employers. Crucially, the requirement for investment in skills in this area also covers trade union and employee representatives.
The need for an agreed set of minimum standards in workplace relations to guide line managers, trade union and employee representatives has long been an issue. The ERI, through its board which is made up of experts drawn from a senior group of people from unions, business, CBI, ACAS, TUC and other employers groups, has developed the guiding standards for employee relations.
Andy Cook, Chair of ERI said: “Research has shown that people generally leave their manager rather than their job. Too often, talented individuals are promoted to management level on merit of being good at their vocation, without being given the tools and competence to manage people in a fair and engaging way. On top of this, there is increasing pressure on line managers as support functions, have been cut or refocused. Organisations who invest in their line managers and who recognise the fundamental part they play in creating improved productivity, flexibility and performance, really do feel the commercial benefits”
ERI and educational partner, the Newcastle University Business School, are launching a range of innovative courses leading to a Masters in Employee Relations along with short tailored workshops for all those on the frontline of workplace relations.