A common catchcry of the many generalist HR practitioners we speak with every day, however the demand for strong employee relations skills within the HR generalist role has surged, essential for effectively resolving conflict, fostering a positive work environment, and ensuring organisational success.

Traditionally, HR generalists were responsible for a wide range of functions including recruitment, onboarding, performance, benefits, and compliance. That scope has expanded significantly, and employee relations skills have become a cornerstone of the HR generalist's toolkit, even where there is the luxury of being supported by an employee/industrial/workplace relations specialist or team.

I'll never forget the first performance management meeting I initiated years ago. I wrote a script for the line manager, she admitted was nervous, but after we had rehearsed it several times, she said she felt ready. We sat down together with her direct report, the line manager announced that "HR has something to talk to you about", then remained tight-lipped! With some coaching, next time she felt empowered to take control of the meeting, which was far more meaningful for her employee, and resulted in a lasting change in behaviour and their ongoing relationship.

Conflict is an inevitable part of any workplace. It can arise from differences in opinion, miscommunications, or competing interests. However, when these conflicts are emotionally charged, navigating them becomes significantly more complex. In such scenarios, advice can be open to interpretation, making resolution even more challenging. Effective conflict resolution skills are crucial for HR generalists to mediate disputes, address grievances, and maintain a harmonious work environment. This not only helps in resolving immediate issues, but also prevents future conflicts.

In addition to supporting the resolution of conflict, today's HR generalists are now expected to:

1. Facilitate Communication: Serving as a bridge between employees and leaders, ensuring transparent and effective communication, and offering a neutral perspective, which is essential in helping parties navigate emotionally charged situations. Their skills in active listening, empathy, and structured problem solving provide a framework that can transform even the most volatile situations into opportunities for growth and understanding.
2. Promote Engagement: Fostering a positive work culture that promotes employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. A strong focus on employee relations helps in building a positive workplace culture. When employees feel heard, valued, and respected, their engagement and loyalty increase. HR generalists play a key role in creating programs and policies that promote job satisfaction and reduce turnover.
3. Ensure Legal Compliance and Risk Management: Understanding labour laws and regulations is essential for HR generalists. Employee relations skills help them navigate complex legal landscapes, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant and minimising the risk of litigation. In my example above, at first the line manager just wanted to "get rid of" that employee, so I had to explain our obligation to follow procedural fairness, and coach her through the necessary stages.
4. Support Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is a key responsibility of HR generalists. Strong employee relations skills enable them to address biases, foster inclusive practices, and ensure that all employees feel welcome and supported.
5. Navigate Change: In times of organisational change, such as mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring, employee relations skills are vital. HR generalists must manage employee concerns, communicate changes effectively, and provide support to ensure a smooth transition.

Given the growing importance of employee relations, HR generalists must continually develop and refine these skills. At Tandem Partners Pty Ltd. we are increasingly briefed on HR Business Partner or HR leadership roles with a requirement for ER skills and experience, and we are increasingly asked by HR generalists how and/or where can they improve their ER skills. Recognising the critical importance of this, our inaugural Tandem Tuition Series is focused on employee relations, delivered by qualified subject matter experts in the field.

See below and register your interest today with an email to: 

supportmelbourne@tandempartners.com.au or please reach out to me directly for a chat.

How do you keep your ER skills fresh? I'd love to hear.