Training on Employee Relations Best Practices

Module 1: Core Employee Relations Activities

• What is employee relations all about?

• Why is it important?

• The importance of having sound ER policies

• The psychological contract

• Managing conflicting interests

• Links between employee relations specialists and line managers

• Case Study: Resolving conflicts arising from misaligned expectations between management and staff

• Practical Exercise: Map and analyze a psychological contract scenario in a simulated workplace

Module 2: Practical ER Functions

• Internal communications and managing the message

• Team briefings

• Involvement, engagement, and consultation

• Dealing with sickness absence

• Conducting effective return-to-work interviews

• Providing mediation services

• Case Study: Successful mediation resolving workplace disputes

• Practical Exercise: Conduct a mock return-to-work interview and mediation session

Module 3: Dealing with ER Situations

• Can’t or won’t? – the difference between conduct and capability

• Dealing effectively with disciplinary situations

• Dealing with gross misconduct

• Dealing effectively with capability situations

• Deciding whether to suspend

• Conducting excellent investigations

• Presenting evidence at hearings

• Dealing with appeals

• Case Study: Handling a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct

• Practical Exercise: Simulate an investigation and evidence presentation process

Module 4: Engaging Employees

• Designing effective staff surveys

• Analyzing the data and learning the lessons

• Dealing with collective disputes

• Employee recognition

• Codes of conduct and ensuring compliance

• Case Study: Using employee feedback to improve engagement and reduce disputes

• Practical Exercise: Design a staff survey and interpret the results to propose actionable strategies

Module 5: Supporting Managers, Team Leaders, and Supervisors

• Dealing with grievances

• Managers’ right to manage

• Developing a coaching style of management

• Motivating staff to perform and giving effective feedback

• Managing performance effectively

• Identifying and dealing with bullying and harassment

• Managing personal issues

• Case Study: Implementing coaching strategies to improve team performance

• Practical Exercise: Conduct a grievance handling and coaching simulation