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But there is also a real opportunity to work together and make a positive change to working lives. We are seeing collective unrest bubbling up and pressures like the cost-of-living crisis and the challenging labour market are a recipe for conflict. Rachel Suff, senior employee relations adviser for the CIPD, said: “Collective employee voice and working with representatives can make a real contribution to an organisation’s climate and performance. Tensions between employees and employers remain high across the UK and strikes are set to continue, but this can be avoided with meaningful participation with employee representatives.
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In fact, relations between unionised employees and their employer haven’t suffered during the pandemic, with almost half (46%) of employers in organisations with union representatives saying that their relationship had remained the same. The findings demonstrate that employers engaging with employee representatives, especially in times of crisis, can yield positive results for both employees and their organisations. Almost nine in ten (87%) describe the relations between managers and employees as good and many have worked in partnership with their recognised unions during the pandemic.
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Mapped out hr tight professional#
The latest research from the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, shows that a tight labour market, combined with a cost-of-living crisis and falling wages, could fuel further industrial action in the coming months.
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