Good work relations help businesses through difficult times

Businesses with good employment relations practices fared better during the recession, according to a survey of British workplaces that was co-sponsored by Acas.

The full report of the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS) found that private businesses that had established very good HR relations with their employees were less likely to have been damaged by the recession. Whilst those that had not were 10% more likely to have been weakened by the recession.

Other key highlights from the WERs report include:

• In relation to the economic climate, the survey revealed an increase in the number of public sector workplaces in which strikes took place, up from 6% in 2004 to 29% in 2011.
• Low use of mediation to resolve individual disputes - 7% of workplaces reported its use.
• Three quarters of workplaces changed some aspect of their staffing practices in response to the recession. The most common being a freeze or cut in wages (42%).
• More employees were committed to the organisation they work for - 74% of employees reported feeling loyal to their organisation, up from 70%.

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