Creating a ‘Win-Win’ Employee Relations Strategy

Employers across the UK are facing an array of challenges with issues including high inflation driving pay disputes and industrial unrest, a challenging labour market, changes to post-Covid working arrangements and the impact of AI on workforce planning, all dominating the Employee Relations (ER) agenda. These issues are creating tensions within the workplace and an increasing demand on HR professionals operating in the ER space. CRF’s employee relations strategy programme is an essential course designed ensure you have the skills necessary to navigate this complex arena.
Location
Central London
Date
4-5 November 2023
Price
CRF members £2,250
Non-members £4,500

About this Programme

Delivered in person over two days, the learning will be experiential, practitioner based and supportive with a focus on applicable and practical outcomes for the organisation. There will be opportunities for peer networking and time with senior ER practitioners at lunches and dinner.

Participants will benefit from a stimulating programme designed around the principles of adult learning.

Who Should Attend?

The programme is aimed at Senior Employee Relations (ER) and HR professionals – either in organisations that have historically had an ER focus or organisations that have recently been exposed to a challenging ER environment.
The course aims to build an awareness of the ER world and legislation by adding a more strategic lens to existing skills.
Participants will typically hold a business or HR related qualification and have at least 5-10 years of HR experience.

Benefits of Attending

  • Best practice in engaging your employees to understand, respond to and resolve contentious workplace issues
  • Engaging with Trade Unions and understanding their role and rights in the workplace
  • Understanding key legislative changes and case law impacting collective labour relations
  • Assessing and mitigating against the legal, political and industrial risks of decisions impacting your workforce
  • Aligning key internal stakeholders to ensure a joined-up approach to ER
  • Creating and implementing a ‘win-win’ strategy where employees feel valued and your organisation is able to deliver its strategic aims
Course directors

Rob Macey

Rob Macey is a solicitor and employee relations consultant, with experience of both trade unions and employers including as ER Director at the UK’s largest academic institution. Rob’s expertise includes employee engagement, trade union organising, collective bargaining, disputes and industrial action, employment and collective labour law, reputation and crisis management. Rob is Director of Staff Strategy, an ER consultancy specialising in assisting employers to develop ER strategy and resolve complex challenges.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Emma Humphries

Emma Humphries is a Partner in the HR Practice Group at Eversheds Sutherland in Leeds, specialising in Industrial Relations and Employment Law. As one of the leading labour law lawyers; working on union-related issues and collective disputes, Emma provides advice to businesses to navigate difficult change projects, often in complex industrial relations environments. With experience in high court litigation, interim injunctions within industrial disputes (including the lawfulness of strike action), her experience also extends to the Employment Tribunal.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Clare Ward

Clare Ward is a Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, where she supports all employment matters with a focus on Labour Relations and Employee Wellbeing. She helps employers to define their trade union relationships and provides support if these breakdown. Clare also defends failure to provide information claims, I&C complaints and unlawful inducements claims. Clare advises strategically when employers are faced with industrial action and has obtained industrial action injunctions. Her experience extends to supporting employers in employee wellbeing agendas and presents on this both publicly and in-house.
Patrick Jones - Course author

John Whelan MBE

John Whelan is a Director at Corporate Research Forum. Formerly UK HR Director of BAE Systems, the FTSE 100 defence, security, and aerospace company, John’s experience and strengths lie in business and HR Transformation, Organisation Development and Employee Relations. Prior to joining BAE, he held a variety of HR roles in engineering, technology and manufacturing businesses across the telecommunications and semi-conductor industries including Matra-Marconi Space where he was HR Director for the UK and, latterly, Group HRD.
Patrick Jones - Course author