Developing ER skills by developing your network

One of the key aims of the Employment Relations network that I run is to build the ER competence and confidence of teams working with unions in the UK. At our face to face meeting last week, the group reiterated the importance of this objective. Employment relations is a critical skill as ER/IR teams manage change such as the new ER Act, the impact of AI on roles and skills, and deal with conflict in workplaces.

To help build this competence, we draw upon different perspectives in the world of work, using insight from others working in this field and collaborating with specialists and those happy to share their knowledge and skills. As well as hearing from others, the group shares their own experience of managing change and conflict. We learn from each other in this trusted environment, sharing what worked in their organisation and what we would have done differently.

We also welcome new faces and new challenges. At this event, we met new joiners to the group, who told me how comfortable they immediately felt in this group that has worked together over the past few years. Relationships are built and contacts shared so that when a new issue arises, everyone knows someone they can reach out to for support and insight.

Reflecting on how this group has developed, I am most proud of the community that has been built and the atmosphere amongst the network members. Almost everyone had examples of something they were working on and who they had turned to within the group, via email, calls and meet ups. In today’s dispersed workplaces, with so much on the plates of ER teams, being part of a professional, friendly, practical and supportive group is not to be underestimated.

If you are working with unions and employee groups and want to be part of this community, please get in touch to find out more. We have face to face meetings, online meetings, monthly news, action learning sets on demand and we utilise our collective knowledge and contacts to help each other.

Thanks to Ken Mulkearn, Felicity Steadman, Susanne Schuler from CEDR, Mike Clancy and Niamh Cull for supporting at our most recent event. The agendas for our up and coming meetings look great too.