You're in a new role in Employee Relations. What are the biggest challenges you'll face?

1 Balancing different perspectives

As an ER specialist, you'll often have to deal with conflicting or competing interests of employees, managers, unions, and the organization as a whole. You'll need to listen, empathize, and communicate effectively with all parties, while also ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, and policies. You'll also need to be fair, impartial, and respectful, even when dealing with difficult or emotional situations. To balance different perspectives, you'll need to develop strong negotiation, mediation, and problem-solving skills, as well as a keen sense of ethics and integrity.

2 Managing change and uncertainty

ER is a dynamic and evolving field, as it responds to changes in the external and internal environment, such as market trends, customer demands, technology, legislation, culture, and strategy. You'll need to be adaptable and resilient, as you'll face new and complex challenges every day. You'll also need to be proactive and innovative, as you'll have to design and implement effective ER policies and practices that align with the organization's goals and values. To manage change and uncertainty, you'll need to stay updated on the latest developments, trends, and best practices in ER, as well as seek feedback, learn from mistakes, and embrace continuous improvement.

3 Building trust and credibility

As an ER specialist, you'll be a key point of contact and a trusted advisor for employees and managers on various issues, such as performance, conflict, grievances, discipline, recognition, development, and well-being. You'll need to build trust and credibility with your stakeholders, as they'll rely on your expertise, guidance, and support. You'll also need to demonstrate professionalism, competence, and confidentiality, as you'll handle sensitive and confidential information and situations. To build trust and credibility, you'll need to be consistent, reliable, and transparent in your actions and communications, as well as show empathy, respect, and appreciation for your stakeholders.

4 Measuring and demonstrating value

As an ER specialist, you'll be expected to contribute to the organization's success by enhancing employee engagement, satisfaction, retention, and performance. You'll need to measure and demonstrate the value of your ER initiatives and interventions, as well as the impact of your role on the organization's outcomes and objectives. You'll also need to justify your resources, budget, and time allocation, as well as your recommendations and decisions. To measure and demonstrate value, you'll need to use data, evidence, and metrics to evaluate and report on your ER activities and results, as well as to identify areas of improvement and opportunities for growth.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?