Definition of Industrial Relations

The Oxford Dictionary defines industrial relations (IR) as the "interaction between employers, employees, and the government; and the institutions and associations through which such interactions are mediated." Sometimes treated as the equivalent of labor relations, industrial relations considers the impact of these interactions on humans and organizations. This article considers industrial relations from the perspectives of researchers, governments, managers and workers.

Research on Labor Relations

In the "Industrial Relations Journal," Ardha Danieli wrote that IR has been widely criticized for ignoring the role of gender, "particularly in relation to women's representation within trade unions." Contemporary industrial relations must reconsider the interactions of men and women in organizations according to their different social roles (which vary from culture to culture). Gender roles and other social roles have important effects on workplace processes and behaviors, including employee motivation and what types of management techniques help organizations to achieve their objectives.

More Than Just Organized Labor Relations

When people think of industrial relations, they often think of contract negotiations between labor unions and managers of organizations. While labor unions are one component of industrial relations, this discipline also concerns relationships between people who run organizations and people who work for organizations. The role of government comes into play because the government is responsible for protecting the rights of individuals and for ensuring certain rights for organizations, especially corporations that pay taxes on their income. In the case of organized labor, the National Labor Relations Board regulates the relationships between trade organizations, employers and workers.

Government Regulation

In the U.S., federal and state governments regulate the interactions between workers and employers. Because industrial relations is an important aspect of managing human resources, public organizations such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Congress, state legislatures, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the courts ensure that employee rights are protected by employers under federal, state and local laws. Examples of industrial relations issues include how many hours workers may work in a week and how much they earn (i.e., the minimum wage).

Management

Managers and business owners should obtain education on industrial relations because governments hold them responsible for how they treat employees and groups of employees. Understanding industrial relations is a topic commonly covered in academic programs such as management, public administration, law and organizational psychology. Cornell University provides references for this topic on the website of its School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Workers

Because workers have varying degrees of knowledge and information about their rights as individuals under federal and state laws, governments and employers are required to provide certain information in the workplace. For example, American employers display posters about the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and rights concerning wages and hours, child labor, disabilities and medical leave. Employers often inform workers through posters and other methods about rights under state programs such as workers' compensation and unemployment. Workers may never study industrial relations formally, but laws and employer practices directly affect their lives.

Resources

• National Labor Relations Board
• Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations
• U.S. Department of Labor FLSA Advisor