Case Study - The Nestle Employee Relations Policy (Policy Mandatory September 2010)

1. Define employee relations and evaluate with reference to an appropriate policy model, the approach to employee relations that Nestle takes.

You should consider within your answer how their approach compares to alternative policy options and for each approach

- how the working relationship between managers and employees,

- how agreements regarding working conditions and performance are made

- how conflict might be resolved, and -the key actors involved in the process including their level of power.

2. Critically assess the concepts of employee involvement and participation and advise how they are different from employee engagement.

3. Evaluate the reasons behind the changing landscape of industrial relations over the last 30-50 years where you live and work and the impact that this has had on contracts of employment and the potential areas for conflict.