Labor Relations Paper

Essay by randerson803College, UndergraduateA-, March 2008

download word file, 4 pages 5.0

In the labor market today, the threat of union organization is not at the top of the lists of priorities for organizations. Both the employer's rights to make decisions within an organization and the rights of the employees to be protected from illegal action and unfair treatment must be maintained. Communication is a key factor in effective labor relations. This paper will identify how unions and labor relations impact organizations. It will also examine the impact of changes in employee relations strategies, policies and practices on organizational performance.

Unions and Labor Relations and their Impact on OrganizationsA union is defined a group of workers who have formed an alliance for the purpose of bargaining on behalf of the workers with the employers about wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions. (Answers.com, 2008).

Labor relations is a field that "emphasizes skills managers and union leaders can use to foster effective labor-management cooperation, minimize costly forms of conflict (such as strikes), and seek win-win solutions to disagreements."

(Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhert, & Wright, 2004).While labor relations normally discuss this exchange regarding unionized employees it also pertains to non-unionized employees.

Unions and labor relations has both positive and negative impacts on organizations. Organizations are concerned if union organizing and bargaining will hurt their performance impact on productivity, profits, and stock performance. Researchers have studied the general relationship between unionization and these performance measures. Through skillful labor relations, organizations can positively influence outcomes. (Noe et al., 2004, p.448/Ch. 14).

Impact of Changes in Employee Relations Strategies, Policies, and Practices on Organizational PerformanceCultural diversity is growing in organizations due to the increase technology and globalization. Employee relations strategies, policies and practices on organizational performance will continue to evolve with the constant changes in the global workforce.

The impact in employee relations strategies, policies and practices on organizational...