Employee Relations Officer

Also known as:

Personnel Officer, Employee Relations
Industrial Relations Officer

Introduction

Employee relations officers (EROs) are concerned with establishing and maintaining good relationships in the workplace between employers and employees. They are involved in discussions and negotiations. Communication skills are central to the job.

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Work Activities

Industrial relations is about communication between employers and employees. Employee relations officers (EROs) aim to maintain good relationships in the workplace. For many officers, industrial relations forms part of a wider personnel role.

A large part of the work involves informing staff and employers about relevant issues, and sorting out workplace problems. Duties include writing reports and dealing with correspondence and data. Industrial relations officers use a computer to keep, update and analyse statistics. For employee relations officers, communication is very important: on the 'phone, in person and in group meetings.

EROs are involved in all discussions and negotiations about work practices, salaries, holidays, hours and any other working conditions.

Handling redundancies requires a lot of preparation, planning and consultation.

EROs also have an important part to play in disciplinary matters and grievances, both for individuals and groups. They may help to resolve cases involving unfair dismissal, discrimination, or unlawful deductions from wages. It is essential that EROs fully understand the company's viewpoint and realise the implications and financial consequences of the agreements they negotiate. EROs may be involved in supervising postal or workplace ballots of workers to decide workplace issues.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

To be an employee relations officer, you must have excellent communication skills. You must have strong listening skills, and the ability to appreciate other people's points of view. You need to be able to handle difficult situations sensitively, and gain the trust and respect of both parties.

You will encounter challenging situations, so you must be able to stay calm under pressure. It is important to remain fair and objective when dealing with disputes, although you also need to be firm if someone's demands are seen as unreasonable.

You need a thorough, methodical and analytical approach to solving problems. You must be capable of leading discussions, and focusing on the key elements of a problem.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salary levels for EROs vary depending on the size of company and the range of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

EROs earn in the range of £19,500 - £24,000 a year, rising to around £40,000 a year. In some sectors, employee relations managers can earn around £40,000 - £75,000 a year.

EROs usually work 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, at key stages in negotiations, extra hours in the evenings and at weekends may be required.

Employers throughout the UK are firms in industry and commerce, public utilities and public sector organisations. Some employer, professional bodies and trade unions employ EROs. Some work with firms of business consultants.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers distance learning and flexible study programmes for support level qualifications, the transitional programme, comprising the Certificate in Business Awareness and Advanced Professional Study (CBAAPS), and the Professional Development Scheme.

Candidates who have skills, but not formal qualifications in personnel and management, may be assessed against the CIPD's standards, leading to membership of the Institute.

Many centres offer CIPD qualifications by distance learning. See the CIPD website for a comprehensive list of centres.

Union members studying employee relations and related subjects can apply for a grant from The General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust.

• 18% of employee relations and personnel officers work part-time.
• 19% have flexible hours.
• 5% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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