INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
The Transformational Industrial (IR) and Employee Relations (ER) training course offers a comprehensive exploration into the evolving landscape of labour relations, equipping participants with practical tools and strategic insights to build strong, constructive, and future-ready relationships between management and trade unions. As labour dynamics shift and industrial relations take on more complex dimensions, organisations must adopt forward-thinking approaches to effectively manage communication, negotiation, and conflict.
This training course delves into the fundamentals and advanced elements of both Industrial Relations (IR) and Employee Relations (ER), covering legal, economic, and psychological factors that shape today’s workforce interactions. Through case-based learning and participatory exercises, participants will develop a deeper understanding of how to transform traditional IR practices into progressive, value-driven partnerships that foster workplace stability and mutual respect.
This Transformational Industrial (IR) and Employee Relations (ER) training course will highlight:
- The evolving definitions and expectations of IR and ER in the modern workplace
- Legal, economic, and societal influences on effective industrial relations
- Building and sustaining positive employment relationships
- Techniques for collective bargaining and collaborative negotiation
- Constructive conflict management and introduction to workplace mediation practices
COURSE DETAILS
Objectives
At the end of the Transformational Industrial (IR) and Employee Relations (ER) training course, participants will be able to:
- Implement collaborative strategies to strengthen labour and union relationships
- Apply contemporary tools for enhancing and transforming industrial relations
- Understand the importance of engagement, empowerment, and trust in employee relations
- Analyse people-related challenges within labour frameworks and address them strategically
- Deploy conflict resolution methods that reduce workplace tension and promote dialogue
- Use foundational mediation techniques as part of a practical dispute resolution process
Training Methodology
Participants in this Transformational Industrial (IR) and Employee Relations (ER) training course will receive thorough training course on the subjects covered by the training course outline with the facilitator utilising a variety of proven adult learning teaching and facilitation techniques.
This training course is very participatory and interactive. It involves skill practice in a group setting. Training methodology includes individual and group activities that will intersperse the sessions. A variety of practical sessions, relevant case studies, simulations, and group games and activities are programmed into this training course.
Organisational Impact
Organisations that engage in the Transformational Industrial (IR) and Employee Relations (ER) training course can expect to benefit from:
- Enhanced labour-management relations aligned with global best practices
- Reduction in grievance escalation and arbitration costs
- Increased organisational agility in addressing labour issues proactively
- Development of a collaborative culture that supports positive union engagement
- Stronger internal mechanisms for handling disputes, negotiations, and employee concerns
Personal Impact
Participants will gain:
- Deeper expertise in managing union dynamics and labour engagement
- Practical skills in conflict resolution and interest-based negotiation
- Insight into the modern union delegate’s strategic and relational role
- Enhanced communication and mediation capabilities
- Broader awareness of future trends in industrial and employee relations
Who should Attend?
- Union Delegates and Officials
- Employee Relations (ER) Personnel
- Industrial Relations (IR) Personnel
- Human Resource Management (HRM) Professionals who need to understand Industrial Relations & Employee Relations
- Those managers who would benefit from an understanding of trade union issues
- Anyone who wants to learn practical skills in labour negotiation and workplace mediation
DAILY AGENDA
Day 1: Transformational Employee, Labour & Industrial Relations
- The Context for Labour, Employee & Industrial Relations
- Understanding the Functional Role of Trade Unions
- Trade Unionism in Africa, The Gulf, and Globally
- Current Trends in Employee & Industrial Relations
- The Nature of the Employment Relationship and the Psychological Contract
- Employee Relations: Economic, Legal & Social Perspectives
Day 2: Vital People Factors in the Workplace
- Collective Negotiation and Consultation
- Techniques and Processes to Manage Grievances Efficiently
- Dignity at Work: Workplace Bullying Example
- The ‘Flexible Firm’ Model and the Labour Utilisation
- Involvement, Participation, and Employee Voice
Day 3: Negotiation Skills for Collective Bargaining
- Collective Bargaining
- A Win-Win Approach to Negotiation
- Stages of Negotiation & the Coleman Raider Bare-bones Model
- Exploring Competition and Cooperation
- Introduction to Reframing Techniques
- Cultural Differences that Affect Negotiation and Collective Bargaining
Day 4: Managing Conflict and Workplace Mediation Skills
- Understanding Conflict
- Analysing your Conflict Handling Behaviour (styles)
- Resolving and Managing Conflict – avoiding conflict escalation
- The Abilene Paradox and Avoiding Groupthink
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Understanding Arbitration, Conciliation, and Mediation
Day 5: Practical Techniques of Mediation
- The Mediation Processes
- Issues Suitable for Mediation
- The Mediator’s Role
- The 5-step Framework for Effective Mediation
- Reaching and Formalising Agreements
- Personal Action Planning
Certificate
- On successful completion of this training course, KC Academy Certificate will be awarded to the delegates.