Employee relations

In many respects the whole of this book is about employee relationships. In many industries and countries employee relationships have been influenced by a greater or smaller trade union presence and involvement. With the exception of a small number of hospitality sectors, and in certain countries, trade unions have played a relatively insignificant role in this sector. This is generally due to a number of reasons which are discussed at some length in this chapter. The historical development of industrial relations into employee relations as a key element of contemporary HRM is traced with specific issues raised regarding the hospitality industry. In this context, the chapter also addresses the growing importance of employee consultation and organisational communication, which are central to contemporary employee relations strategies.