workplace relations

Question 1

what is the definition of workplace relations?

Answer 1

• the interactions between employers and employees to achieve a s et of working conditions that will meet the needs of employees, as well as allowing the businss to acheive its objectives

Question 2

how can workplace relations be done well?

Answer 2

the goal is to achieve positive relationships where employees are satisfied with their pay and work conditions, the business can remain productive and competitive, disputes are kept to a minimum

businesses with effective workplace relations tend to be more success at enhancing their ability to gain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Question 3

what are the participants in the workplace (5)?

Answer 3

• human resource managers
• employees
• employer associations
• unions
• fair work commission

Question 4

what can employees do in the workplace?

Answer 4

• employees are increasingly negotiating employement arrangements in the workplace and are closely involved when there are new or changed arrangements
• individual employement contracts
• can be called upon to approve a new agreement that has been negotiated on behalf of all employees
• when negotiations break down employees may take industrial action, ie strike.

Question 5

what is the role of the human resource manager?

Answer 5

• negotiations of employment agreements with employees and their representatives
• implementation of agreement
• dealing with disputes
• training of staff and other managers

Question 6

what is the trade union? and their role? and what can they investigate?

Answer 6

• organisation formed by employees in an industry to represent them in efforts to improve wages and working conditions

role: work with management to help resolve workplace issues acting as an advocate for employees

unions will investigate suspected breaches of workplace laws, discrimination law or workplace safety laws

Question 7

what is the employer associations? what are their responsibility or role?

Answer 7

• organisations that represent and assist employer groups

role: keeping their memebers informed of implications of legislative changes, and assisting their members to negotiate workplace agreements that are consistent with legislation
e.g. australian retailers association

Question 8

what can the fair work commission to for people?

Answer 8

• help parties to resolve workplace disputes when ne agreemnt can be reached through conciliation, mediation and arbitration
• deal with applications in relation to unfair dismissal
• administer the regulation of industrial action
• review and set a minimum wage level for the lowest paid workers throguh its minimum wage panel

Question 9

what is fairwork commission? and what are its roles

Answer 9

• it is a national workplace tribunal that has the power to carry out a range of functions under the fair work act 2009

role: making and varying awards in the national workplace relations system
- approves agreements between employer and employees at the enterprise level,

it is independent