7 Common Employee Relations Examples

What Is Employee Relations?

Employee relations (which is sometimes abbreviated as ER or ERM for employee relationship management) is a term that businesses use to describe the relationships and interactions between employees, and between an employer and its employees.

The goal of employee relations is to create a healthy working environment where employees feel safe to express ideas, supported in their work and cared for as an individual. As such, every effort from an organization to build strong relationships among employees falls under the employee relations umbrella. This includes any efforts surrounding policies, practices, culture, training, benefits, and pretty much everything else. Hey, we told you it was a big concept. 

Another major part of employee relations is seeking employee feedback and implementing different management practice and tools designed to improve employee relations across the board. 

7 Examples of Employee Relations

Here are common areas in your business where an increased focus on employee relations could make a real difference.

1. Conflict resolution

Conflict between is inevitable. Heck, sometimes a little healthy conflict can drive innovation. But that kind of conflict — the rational, respectful exchange of opinions in pursuit of a common goal — isn’t the kind of conflict we’re talking about right now; we’re talking about conflict that doesn’t contribute to growth.

This kind of conflict is personal, negative, or hurtful, and it is toxic for team dynamics and the company’s bottom line.

When stepping in as a neutral third-party to resolve the conflict, there are a few steps that will help you create a safe and productive environment.

1. Schedule a formal meeting in a neutral place. Avoid scheduling the meeting in the office of someone who is involved in the conflict as this could be perceived as favoritism.
2. Set expectations that each individual should be treated with respect and have the space to share their views.
3. Ask each individual to participate by describing the conflict and what their opinion of the matter was. Guide participants to focus on behaviors and problems rather than getting personal and talking about specific people.
4. Make sure all participants understand each point of view. After each individual has described things from their view, ask the other participant to restate what has been said. See if they have any follow-up questions they would like to get clarification on.
5. Brainstorm solutions and collaborate to find an outcome that may be acceptable to both parties.
6. Summarize all the solutions discussed.
7. Schedule a follow-up meeting. Ask each participant to think about these solutions and schedule a second meeting to choose a final course of action.

2. Workplace safety

If team members don’t feel safe and cared for at work, chances are high that they will start looking for other opportunities. Employers may also be held financially or legally responsible for any injuries, medical leave, or lost wages that occur as a result of workplace accidents.

Take a walk around your office and identify any safety hazards. Does the office kitchen have wet or slippery floors? Are electrical outlets or extension cords overloaded? Are your sidewalks clear of snow and ice during the winter? Be sure to take the appropriate action for each concern you find.

Your organization should have defined safety policies that are easily accessible to employees. These policies should include but not be limited to:
 

• Fire evacuation plan
• Guidelines for reporting safety violations
• COVID-19 plan

The second aspect of workplace safety is psychological safety. For an office to have a productive environment, employees need to feel secure sharing their thoughts and opinions with team members. Leaders in an emotionally safe workplace encourage team members to share their ideas, are inclusive, and focus on solutions to problems instead of worrying about assigning blame. 

This doesn’t mean you have to handle your employees with kid gloves; these are adults who should be capable of facing hard truths when necessary. It just means that no one should ever feel picked on or ignored. Make sure that every member of every team knows that their ideas matter and that they can speak up when they need to without fear of being trivialized. 

3. Employee support

First, recognize individual employees in team huddles, company-wide meetings, one-on-one discussions, and written channels. This recognition can be for a work anniversary, a completed project, or outstanding results. Simple encouragement can go a long way in boosting morale and laying a foundation for more high-quality work. Non-work-related events are likewise worth recognizing. Celebrate team birthdays and big life events to drive home the point that it’s the employee you value, and not just the work they do.

Employees also need to feel supported in their professional development. Team members should be aware of growth opportunities within the company and the skills they need to develop to get there. Consider setting up a mentoring program where less experienced employees can meet with experienced employees for tips, training, advice, and more.

4. Employee engagement

Even if most of us enjoy taking it easy now and then (who doesn’t love a day off?), the truth is that individuals are happier when they’re productive. Employee engagement reflects the degree that employees invest their energies in reaching organizational goals, and is the result of feeling valued, inspired, and empowered at work. 

Unfortunately, only 36% of employees in the US feel engaged with their work. And if employees don’t feel like they are contributing towards a common goal, disengagement is often right around the corner. 

Help your employees become more engaged by:

• Having regular conversations about engagement
• Training managers on how to support engagement
• Holding regular performance reviews
• Keeping remote workers in mind
• Having employees set goals and check back on performance
• Regularly highlighting employee strengths and achievements
• Holding frequent team-building activities
• Advocating for work-life wellness
• Providing professional development opportunities

5. Policy education and enforcement

Not every employee (whether you’re a manager, or intern, or executive) has the same understanding of what proper conduct is and is not. This is why company policies are so important. You should clearly communicate your company policies during onboarding, and schedule regular refreshers to keep procedures top of mind for employees and to take into account any updates.

Consider holding a mandatory annual policy review meeting or pop-up meetings as you make important updates. Additionally, inform employees where they can access copies of the policies and encourage them to ask clarifying questions whenever necessary. Some policies you may want to revisit regularly include:
 

• Employee conduct
• Attendance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Ethics

Communicate adjustments to policies promptly and make sure employees have a written copy of the updated version. And while it may not be fun to have to think about how you’re going to crack down when policies are ignored, your organization should also have a clear plan in place for policy enforcement. Train supervisors to alert HR to noncompliance and have a disciplinary plan in place and be sure to collect documentation of repeated noncompliance. After all, policies are only effective if they’re being followed.

6. Managing misconduct

Speaking of documenting policy noncompliance, sometimes the best thing you can do for employee relations is to deal with those who are actively hindering it.

One extremely important aspect of employee relations is identifying and addressing employee misconduct. Misconduct is anything that negatively impacts an employee’s work or peers. Depending on the severity, misconduct may be manageable through individual training (or retraining) or may require termination or even legal action. No matter the seriousness, misconduct should be handled promptly to protect the employees at your organization.

Some common types of misconduct include:

• Confidentiality breaches
• Insubordination
• Unethical relationships
• Harassment and discrimination
• Theft or fraud

Once misconduct has been discovered, begin an investigation immediately. Gather statements from everyone involved and document the evidence. If necessary, consider a temporary paid suspension of the individuals involved. Consult with leadership to determine the severity of the offense and the necessary actions. Communicate the decided-upon consequence to all involved parties.

Typically, less severe consequences can be addressed through a standardized warning process. The first offense may warrant a verbal warning while the following offenses escalate to a formal written warning, probation period, suspension, and finally dismissal.

7. Employee benefits

Want to really show your employees you care about them? Hit them with some fantastic benefits! Employee benefits are powerful tools for employee relations; they not only demonstrate how much you value your workforce, but they can also help employees better prioritize their own wellbeing. And some of the most effective benefits you can offer to improve employee relations are wellness programs. 

When building a benefits strategy, evaluate the needs of your employees and create a system that meets those needs. Benefits packages have evolved over the past few decades beyond traditional offerings such as medical, dental, and vision. Now, organizations offer employees a wide range of offerings and flex benefits like retirement savings accounts, mental health programs, and physical wellbeing programs. The right benefits can contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and can help your employees feel valued and supported.

When employees have the tools they need to focus on their health and wellness, they have more energy for happiness and productivity at work. Luckily, you don’t have to figure it out all on your own. Talk to a Wellbeing Specialist today to discover new ways to take care of and engage with your employees.