Introduction to Employee Relations and Workplace Culture

• Defining employee relations and its importance in the modern workplace
• Core elements of a positive workplace culture
• Trust, respect, and fairness as drivers of engagement
• Roles and responsibilities of HR, managers, and leadership
• Employee relations policies: scope and integration with HR strategy
• Case discussion: Symptoms of poor employee relations

Employee Motivation and Engagement

• Theories of motivation: Maslow, Herzberg, and beyond
• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation: practical application
• Non-monetary rewards and recognition strategies
• Linking motivation to performance and retention
• Designing motivation strategies aligned with team dynamics
• Group activity: Building a motivation action plan

Managing Grievances and Employee Complaints

• What is a grievance? Types and early warning signs
• Common sources of employee dissatisfaction
• Stages of a grievance procedure
• Listening skills, empathy, and neutrality
• Developing a structured complaint handling process
• Case studies: Handling sensitive and high-risk complaints

Workplace Discipline: Policies and Best Practices

• The purpose and principles of disciplinary action
• Legal considerations and compliance with labor laws
• Progressive discipline process: verbal, written, final warning, termination
• Conducting fair and respectful disciplinary meetings
• Documenting disciplinary actions
• Role play: Disciplinary discussion and resolution

Integrating Employee Relations into Organizational Excellence

• Linking employee relations to performance management
• Leadership’s role in shaping employee experience
• Preventing conflict through proactive relationship building
• Measuring success in employee relations: KPIs and feedback tools
• Final group exercise: Designing an Employee Relations Action Plan
• Closing discussion and course evaluation