A study of employee relations. It begins with an examination of the corporate environment and its institutions. Then, reflecting the requirement in the IPD standards for students to develop the skills to manage employee relations effectively, it takes a pragmatic approach in demonstrating how HR and IR professionals manage key ER issues - including negotiating, handling grievance, defining relationships with unions, and implementing and monitoring ER procedures. The work covers: the implications of the Working Time Regulations, the national minimum wage and union recognition legislation; examples from agreements, company rules, and regulations which recognize both the common and different interests of the employer and employee; the principles required to understand trade union behaviour; additional material on employee involvement, joint consultation and best management practice; a section on the role of the European Union, updated in the light of the UK signing up to the Social Chapter; material on information handling skills and planning, monitoring and review skills; future prospects for unions and government economic policy; and the labour market, including the trend towards a more flexible workforce.