What Is Employee Relations? Definition + Career Guide

Employee relations refers to an organization’s efforts to maintain positive employee relationships. The goals of good employee relations include inspiring employee loyalty, increasing engagement, reducing turnover, and creating a positive company culture [1]. 

In your research into employee relations (ER), you may find that this discipline shares similarities with human resources (HR). In addition, some companies may use ER and HR interchangeably, while others may outline distinct functions and responsibilities for professionals in each discipline. Here are some possible differences to keep in mind. 

• Regarding employees as stakeholders and contributors to the company  

• Seeking employee input when making company-wide decisions 

• Addressing employee health and safety 

• Creating a sense of belonging, even with many in the workforce working remotely in the wake of COVID-19

• Sponsoring employee-led resource groups (ERGs) around shared characteristics, such as gender, lifestyle, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or interest   

• Coaching employees to perform at their best level

• Taking a stand on issues that employees care about, such as social justice or climate change

• Supporting career growth and professional development  

Employee relations examples

If you’re in an employee relations role, there are several junctures of an employee’s experience with your company you might be involved in. Examples include:  

• Onboarding new employees 

• Managing conflicts among staff 

• Analyzing performance 

• Establishing health and safety practices

• Helping employees manage work/life balance 

• Offering events and incentives outside of work 

According to the 2021 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends survey, 20 per cent of respondents (HR executives) identified employee well-being as an important part of how the workplace should be reimagined [1]. 

Employee relations jobs

If you are interested in a career in employee relations and helping create a company’s culture, you may wonder what jobs are available and what kind of salary you can earn. As of March 2024, Canada Job Bank says there are 503 open labour relations officer jobs open [2], and the job outlook is “moderate” to “good” in most provinces and territories [3].  

As you research your career options in this field, examine each employee relations job description and requirements to find jobs that align with your interests, qualifications, and career goals. 

To get a job in an employee relations role, you may need a post-secondary or graduate degree in human resources, employee relations, or a related field, as well as an HR certification or prior consulting experience. It will also help cultivate empathy, emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. 

Here are three examples of employee relations roles. 

Staff relations manager

Staff relations managers fall under the greater human resources manager umbrella, so they plan and direct human resources and personnel departments, including coordinating recruitment and training and developing and implementing policies. Additional duties might include collaborating with company leaders on setting policy and training managers in best practices in employee relations [4]. 

According to Glassdoor, Canada's average staff relations manager base salary is $74,104 [5].  

Labour relations specialist 

Labour relations specialists promote employee well-being, including assisting with work-related challenges and helping employees enhance their performance. Professionals in this role may also advise employees on complying with government and company policies. 

According to Glassdoor, Canada's average annual base pay is $89,921 [6]. 

Labour relations consultant 

Labour relations consultants advise companies’ human resources departments on policies and procedures, decision-making, recruitment, training, and more. A labour relations consultant’s average annual base pay in Canada is $67,281, according to Glassdoor [7]. 

How to build positive employee relations 

In this section, you’ll discover four methods for building positive employee relations in your current or future role. 

1. Create an employee relations strategy. 

A clear strategy can make it easier to implement employee relations efforts and measure their results. Here are three steps to take: 

• Identify employee relations goals, such as increasing employee engagement, improving employees’ performance, and reducing employee turnover.

• Identify your actions to achieve these goals, such as conducting exit interviews with departing employees and using insights to enhance current employees’ experiences. Another action might be improving employee appreciation by offering gifts, rewards, and other recognition for excellence. 

• Identify the metrics you’ll use to measure progress. For example, you might track employee engagement according to the number of employees who attend non-mandatory meetings or company social events. 

2. Define company culture. 

A strong company culture employees believe in can inspire them to stay with the company longer and even perform better in their roles. Here are three actions you can take: 

• Work with leaders to refine the company’s values and mission statement and identify ways to connect the values and mission to employees' work.

• Unite employees around the company’s long-term vision by inviting them to share its meaning.

• Specify and strengthen the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Share these efforts with employees and request their input.   

3. Establish open and honest communication. 

Streamlining internal communication among managers, employees, and leaders can contribute to a healthier workplace and encourage everyone to share valuable ideas. 

Here are three ways to improve communication: 

• Invite employees to discuss their challenges openly regularly and schedule time to listen to employees’ experiences, thoughts, and feelings. 

• Work with managers to develop documentation of new policies and procedures. Documentation might include demo videos or written instructions. 

• Ask employees about their career goals and how their work aligns with them. 

Explore employee relations with Coursera.

Online courses can be a great way to build skills and knowledge in employee relations and discover career options in this field. Explore the Specializations below: