Conflict, bargaining, involvement and well-being

Chapter 23 of Human Resource Management in a Business Context (2nd Edition 2004) by Alan Price - published by Thomson Learning

Contents

Objectives

The purpose of this chapter is to:
- Discuss the role of conflict in the workplace.
- Provide an overview of mediation and tribunal systems.
- Evaluate the relationship between employee involvement and workplace productivity.
- Discuss the role of HR practitioners in matters such as work-life balance, health and safety and stress reduction.

• Conflict, bargaining, involvement and well-being
• Employee relations as an activity
• Conflict
• Tribunals and arbitration systems
• The negotiating process
• Models of bargaining
• Employee involvement
• Employee involvement in practice
• Work-life balance
• Health and safety
• Stress

Summary

This chapter focused on employee relations as an activity extending through negotiation and bargaining, discipline and employee involvement. These activities involve a number of skills crucial to human resource managers. HR specialists are also involved in issues which are considerably legislated and touch on home life and health as well as more familiar workplace topics such as discipline and conflict. Competitive pressure has placed extra burdens on employees, especially those with career aspirations. These burdens can cause health problems, particularly those that are stress-related. HR practitioners have at least a moral responsibility to deal with such matters and encourage the setting up of supportive mechanisms such as employee assistance programmes.

Further reading

Harvard Business Review on Work and Life Balance (published by Harvard Business School, 2000) is a collection of articles on a range of issues. Beyond Work-Family Balance: Advancing Gender Equity and Workplace Performance by Rhona Rapoport, Lotte Bailyn, Joyce K. Fletcher and Bettye H. Pruitt (published by Jossey-Bass, 2001) argues that the concept of "balance" is outmoded and why a new approach - work-personal life integration - offers greater promise. Tolley's Health and Safety at Work Handbook, edited by Malcolm Dewis (Tolley Publishing, 2002) discusses health and safety in the UK legal context. The Mind and Heart of the Negotiator by Leigh L. Thomson (published by Prentice Hall, 2000) looks at the skills of negotiation and bargaining.

Review questions

Problem for discussion and analysis

> Chapter 22   >  Chapter 24

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Human Resource Management
in a Business Context

2nd Edition 2004

by Alan Price
Published by
Thomson Learning
ISBN 186152966X

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