The key to successfully managing employee relations is understanding the difference between the employment relationship and the employee relationship ...

Employment relationship
This is the hard side ... where things get a bit legal. The employment relationship refers to the unique relationship each employee has with your business, that is, the employing entity, codified in a legally enforceable contract of employment. The contract of employment may be supported by individual or collective workplace agreements.

Employee relationship
This is the soft side ... where things get a bit personal. The employee relationship refers to the relationship that each employee has with their boss ... when employees rate their employer they are often reflecting the quality of the working relationship with their boss.

Understanding industrial relationships
Your business may or may not be involved in industrial relations ... the system of workforce representatives, industrial tribunals, and so on. If you find yourself in an industrial setting, make sure you have a good employment lawyer to advise you.