CHAPTER 7

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

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UNDERSTANDING
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Good employee relations involve providing fair and consistent treatment to all
employees

To foster good employee relations, managers must listen and understand what
employees are saying and experiencing

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UNDERSTANDING
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Effective employee relations require cooperation between managers and

employee relations representatives

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Employment Laws
Employment Act

Industrial Relations Act

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 TRADE UNIONS
A group of seven or more workers can form a trade union
Application for registration with DG of Trade Unions
The application form must be signed by all members
Send together with the union’s constitution
The important criterion for a union to be registered is its intended member

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 TRADE UNIONS
All workers above 16 years have the right to join an appropriate union

Workers between 16 and 21 have lesser rights to participate in union activities

Specified groups of workers are restricted from joining trade unions

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TYPES OF UNIONS
National and regional unions

In-house unions

Employer’s associations

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 ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS
Protect their members’ right
Will take action to stop such unfair practices
Advise members on their right
Encouraging government to pass legislation
Introduce policies

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COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
The process whereby employers and employees negotiate over the
terms and conditions on employment

Union is required by law to gain formal recognition from the employer

before any negotiation can be made

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 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
One of the main functions of trade unions

The best method of regulating the terms and conditions of employment

Once an agreement is reached between the two parties, there will be no

discrimination between them

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 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
May be carried out between an individual employer and a trade union of
employees

Or between the union of employees and the union of employers

This process is regulated by the Industrial Relation Act

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 COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS
Written agreement between an employer and a trade union relating to terms
and conditions of employment
Agreement must specify their duration, not less than three years
Must be deposited with Industrial Court
Most agreements include clauses on wages, working hours and other benefits
to be given to the workers

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DISCIPLINE
Penalties in a disciplinary system
◦ Oral warning
◦ First written warning
◦ Final written warning
◦ Suspension without pay
◦ Suspension of increment
◦ Demotion or downgrading
◦ Dismissal

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EMPLOYEE PROBLEMS

Promotion of employees

Grievance handling

Absenteeism of workers

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TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE’S
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
Role of Industrial Court

Resignation

Expiry of fixed-term contract

Retirement

Redundancy and retrenchment

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TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE’S
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
Dismissal of misconduct

Dismissal for poor performance

Frustration of contract

Termination of probationers

Constructive dismissal

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SAFETY AND HEALTH

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ACCIDENTS AT WORK
Financial costs

Losses of output

Lowered morale

Negative publicity

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TYPES OF ACCIDENTS
Near miss

Non-fatal

Fatal

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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
Technical causes

Human causes

Environmental causes

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ENSURING A SAFE WORKPLACE

Safety policies
◦ A statement of organization’s commitment
◦ An explanation of who’s responsible
◦ A description of procedures

Safety programmed
◦ Commitment from all employees
◦ Officer in-charge of safety

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ENSURING A SAFE WORKPLACE

Safety programmes
◦ Record keeping
◦ Safety training
◦ Safety and healthy living campaigns
◦ Incentive and reward schemes
◦ Provision of personal protective equipment
◦ Disciplinary system

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OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT
Ensure the safety of all employees and any other person at the workplace
Draft and disseminate a safety policy
Appoint a safety committee
Appoint a dedicated, qualified safety and health officer
Provide appropriate training, supervision and information
Report serious accidents to DOSH

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SEXUAL HARASSMENT
An unwanted conduct of a sexual nature having the effect of verbal,
non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment

Not acceptable behaviour and any employee found guilty of such

conduct will be punished

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IMPROVING EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH
Wellness programmes

Stress management

Reducing drug and alcohol related problems

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EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Programs designed to help employees whose job performance is suffering
because of physical, mental or emotional problems
Four steps involve:
◦ Identify troubled employee
◦ counseling
◦ Solve the problem
◦ Depend on the outcome of the treatment

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