How would you define 'employee relations'?

Employee relations can be defined as the management of relationships between employers and employees. This encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at fostering positive interactions within the workplace, addressing employee concerns, enhancing job satisfaction, and maintaining a collaborative and productive environment. Effective employee relations ensure open communications, promote trust, and help to resolve disputes that may arise.

While negotiation processes with labor unions, development of employee training programs, and management of payroll and benefits are all important aspects of human resources, they focus on specific areas rather than the overarching relationships between the employer and employees. Employee relations cover the entire scope of these interactions and are crucial for building a healthy workplace culture, which in turn can lead to improved organizational performance and lower turnover rates.