Introduction To Employee Relations

Every CEO should be aware that if their company's industrial relations is not carefully managed, Industrial Relations Legislation and employee issues may have a negative financial impact on their business.

At some stage, even if it is only due to employee wage increases, industrial relations will affect your business.

The following papers are provided as a guide to assist CEOs in avoiding additional costs in their business due to the negative impact of an industrial issue.

• Do You Know What Industrial Relations Legislation Regulates Your Business?
  • Australian Workplace Relations Act 1996
    
  • Individual State Legislation
  
  
• Do You Know Your Union?
  
  
• Awards
  
  
• Enterprise Agreements
  
  
• Australian Workplace Agreements
  
  
• Common Law Contracts
  
  
• Which Is Best For My Business - Award, Enterprise Agreement, Australian Workplace Agreement or Common Law Contract, or a Combination?
  
  
• Preventing Unfair Dismissal Claims
  • Hiring
  • Disciplinary Action
  • Procedure to be Adopted in All Cases of Serious Misconduct
  • Termination of Employment
  
  
• Equal Opportunity in Employment
  
  
• Recruitment
  
  
• Questions to Answer Before Recruiting
  
  
• Develop Appropriate Selection Criteria
  
  
• Sample Job Description
  
  
• Job Description Pro-Forma
  
  
• Advertising Vacancy
  
  
• Person Specification
  
  
• Interview Procedure
  
  
• Referees and References
  
  
• Eight Stages of an Interview
  
  
• Recruitment Checklist
  
  
• Pre-Employment Medical Examinations
  
  
• Induction
  
  
• Terms and Conditions of Employment
  
  
• Company Policies, Procedures and Management Decisions
  
  
• Dress Rules
  
  
• Performance Assessment
  
  
• Coaching
  
  
• Counselling
  
  
• Promotion, Training & Development
  
  
• Separation
  
  
• Termination of Employment
  
  
• Verbal Warning Pro-Forma
  
  
• Example of First Warning Letter
  
  
• Unsatisfactory Performance Counselling Procedure
  
  
• Redundancy
  • Compulsory
  • Voluntary

Please note that these papers are a guideline only. Should you have concerns regarding the correct approach obtain professional advice, or contact RAK Global Solutions Pty Ltd, before commencing any action.

Ray Kelly, Managing Director, RAK Global Solutions Pty Ltd; Heidelberg West, Victoria; Ph: (03) 9499 6699; RAK Global Solutions is an employee relations consultancy firm with key expertise in the areas of industrial relations strategy, employment contracts, industrial negotiaiton, AIRC advocacy, equal opportunity, organisation review and industrial relations training
First published: 18 September 2000.
Last updated: 12 February 2004.