Transcript 11_Effective-Employer - econbus

Effective
Employer / Employee
Relations
Business communication
Methods of employee
representations
Resolving industrial disputes*
Next
lesson
Business
communication
Internal & External Communication
Internal
External
Between
people in the
same business
With people
outside the
business
Examples of internal communication

Formal meetings and briefings

Conference calls & webinars

E-mail

Internal newsletters, brochures,
and other printed materials

Intranets

Team briefing sessions

Message boards

Training packs (e.g. induction
materials)


Wikis, blogs, podcasts, internal
social media tools
Informal meetings between
employees & senior
management
External communication
Press releases
Marketing materials (e.g. adverts,
brochures, direct mailings)
Published financial information (e.g.
accounts)
Letters, emails and telephone
conversations with customers and
suppliers
Reports to government and other
agencies
Closely linked with
the idea of
“stakeholders” –
i.e. those who have
an interest in the
activities and
results of the
business
What problems
did they have
with
communication?
What examples
of (internal &
external?)
communication
are they using
effectively?
Video clip
Apprenticeship
or
Dragon’s Den???


Bad & good presentation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfPJ5Yqnw
gQ&feature=PlayList&p=BE835A0FCB255AF
D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3
Barriers to effective communication
Barrier
Explanation
Language
The communication message might not use vocabulary that is
understood by the receiver – e.g. too much use of technical or financial
jargon
Noise
Various things stop a message from getting through or being heard –
e.g. poor connection, distractions, too many people speaking
Overload
Too much information can cause problems e.g. slow down decision
making
Emotion
The relationship between the sender and receiver of communication
might adversely affect the message – which could be ignored or
misinterpreted
Gaps
Too many intermediaries (e.g. too many layers in hierarchy through
which message has to be passed) might prevent or distort the
message
Inconsistency If people receive conflicting or inconsistent messages, then they may
ignore or block them
Methods of
employee
representations
Employee groups

These are forums made up
of staff, management & HR
personnel.

They meet to discuss
issues that affect
employees.
Trade Unions

These are
national groups
that negotiate on
behalf of a group
of employees in
the workplace.
Examples of trade unions
Association of Flight
Attendants (AFA)
Association of
Teachers and
Lecturers (ATL)
Bakers, Food and
Allied Workers Union
(BFAWU)
Communication
Workers Union (CWU)
Fire Brigades Union
(FBU)
National Union of
Journalists (NUJ)
Prison Officers
Association (POA)
Professional
Footballers
Association (PFA)
Transport and General
Workers' Union (T&G)
Works Council

A committee representing the employer and elected
employee representatives who gather to discuss
working conditions, grievances and pay.

A works council has to be introduced by law, if a
company employs 50+ staff and are located in two
or more EU countries.
The minimum requirement:


An election of representative must place
One representative must be elected for every 50
employees. Minimum of 3 and max 30.
Issues to be covered under a works council…
Company
structure
Economic and
financial situation
and trends
€
Changes in activities,
production
and sales
Employment
trends
€
Investment plans
Transfer of production
Organisational changes
Mergers, downsizing,
closures
New working methods
Collective redundancies
Resolving Industrial
Disputes
What is an industrial dispute?

When employers and employees (or their
representatives) fail to reach an agreement.

Issues could be over




Workforce plans
Organisational structure (restructure)
Redundancy
Changes in working conditions
How to avoid industrial dispute….

Keeping channels of communication open

Working group involvement

Regular consultation with TU

Effective grievance procedure

ACAS – to offer advice

No strike agreement