A new body designed to promote and improve employee and workplace relations was officially launched last week (Friday 14 December 2012).
Members of government, public and private sector organisations attended the launch of the Employee Relations Institute (ERI) at the House of Commons.
In partnership with the Bradford University School of Management, the ERI will offer a full education programme aimed at senior managers, employee representatives and HR professionals, which aims to focus on the practical and behavioural skills required of management.
Jo Swinson, Minister for Employment Relations, said: “I am very pleased to announce the official launch of the ERI, which will foster good relationships between employees and management.
“A positive workplace environment is good for business. It will help companies attract and retain the most talented people and employers will benefit from more motivated, productive staff. Strong managers also make British business credible for trade and investment.”
The ERI is now recruiting for a group of 20 “founder members” who would be willing to sign up to the Institute’s minimum standards.
Organisations that have backed the ERI include: the TUC, trade unions Unite and Unison, BP, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Local Government Association.
Andy Cook, executive chair of ERI, said: “We aim to improve the state of engagement of managers and employee representatives. It has been apparent that a fundamental issue surrounding the matter was that practical education was needed to educate management, who are sometimes
