A Walk On The Wild Side - Managing employee relations in global and millennial times ... 10 minutes at a time (Alan Wild)
Explorez tous les épisodes de A Walk On The Wild Side - Managing employee relations in global and millennial times ... 10 minutes at a time
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| 19 May 2020 | Ep. 15 — Decoding Brazil: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:12:32 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is a country-specific employee relations profile for Brazil. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the four main issues human resource managers face, the framework of employee representation, and how employee claims are handled. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
Brazil is the largest and most populous country in Latin America and has some distinctive features in its employment environment. It is the most litigious country in the world in terms of labor claims. Large companies have thousands of claims on their books going back for long periods and large sums of money tied up in reserves for future rewards or settlements. Employee claims are made after employment has been terminated and out-of-court settlements are non-existent. We look at the complex labor code and recent reforms of this relatively-closed, domestically-dense economy.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 02 Jun 2020 | Ep. 18 — Identifying and Managing Employee Relations Risk | 00:13:38 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is one of the key issues that establish the best companies, in terms of employee relations, from the rest. In this episode, host Alan Wild speaks to identifying and managing employee relations risk. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
What makes an exceptional employee relations person? The ability to assess resources and strategically move them to a company's risk centers. It's about managing what you have and how you build on it that matters. Exceptional employee relations people are at their very best when the worst happens. Whether that is in collective bargaining, strike action, a corporate campaign, or a trade union recognition management. And, we are often judged by our ability to resolve crises but the most exceptional amongst us are those that prevent crises from happening and are the most prepared to deal with them if and when they do. Let’s look at how we can get the respect, trust, and the ear of business leaders to get the funding we need.
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| 01 Dec 2024 | Ep:18 — From Soft Law to Hard Law…From Mattel to Mercedes: A New and Game-Changing Tactic for Unions and Labor Activists | 00:15:45 | |
How has Mercedes found itself in a German lawsuit over its labor union practices in the United States? How did Japan's Panasonic find itself under investigation by US authorities regarding labor practices in Mexico? There are more; Amazon and Ikea are accused in Germany of poor labor practices in Bangladesh; Maersk stands accused in Denmark of abuses in Cameroon, Uber has been investigated by the Dutch contact point under the OECD Declaration and Armani is in trouble in Italy.
These and other issues have arisen in the last twelve months, causing consternation in C-suites across the United States, Japan, the UK, and Denmark. Author and Podcast Host, Alan Wild explains this new, game-changing twist on an old game … and it is gaining traction fast.
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| 04 Mar 2024 | Ep:07 — Works Councils: One Concept, Many Flavours | 00:13:48 | |
The seventh episode in the “Wild Side '' focuses on works councils. Information and consultation bodies exist in many countries in some form, this episode concentrates on works councils or trade union committees with information and consultation rights in Europe. We discuss why establishing constructive relationships with bodies that represent employee interests is fundamental to European employee relations. A short example of managing a restructuring exercise across Europe sets out information and consultation and the penalties that can apply if the company gets it wrong.
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| 08 Nov 2024 | Ep:17 — Insights from the 2024 HR Policy Global Employee Relations Survey | 00:12:12 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast reveals the findings of the recent global survey conducted by HR Policy Global among employee relations leaders. It explores how the role of global employee relations has evolved into a pivotal executive function and examines the alignment of current skills with future success. It offers ten actionable insights to ensure your employee relations function remains adaptable and effective in the evolving global landscape.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2024 HR Policy Survey
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| 01 Jan 2025 | Ep:19 — The Trump Presidency and the Global CHRO | 00:14:14 | |
What will a second Trump presidency mean for US businesses? Putting America First means putting other countries second, third, or even lower down the order. America First actions at home will not be mirrored by benevolent actions abroad. The international impact of delivering a MAGA agenda is predictable. CHROs should consider how US domestic politics will challenge their global operations.
Author and Podcast Host Alan Wild explores the five management challenges for global CHROs in 2025: geopolitics, tariffs, immigration, labor relations, and international cooperation.
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| 12 May 2020 | Ep. 12 — International Trade Unions … Who They Are and What They Do (Part 2) | 00:13:48 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is the second of three podcasts dealing with international trade unions and international framework agreements. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses international trade unions: who they are, how they are organized, the way they work, and what their priorities are. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
Trade unions have been active internationally at the International Labor Organization since 1919. At the ILO, the goal of international trade unions is to set international labor standards with the objective of influencing national laws. More recently the Global Union Federations have emerged as direct counterparts to international companies. Today, we look at the three trade union groupings that are of most interest to companies, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), 10 industry-based Global Union Federations (GUF), the highly-influential European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and we glimpse into the best way to research and follow trade union news via the powerful website, Labourstart.
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| 04 Dec 2023 | Ep. 01 — How the Role of the Global Employee Relations Executive Was Born | 00:10:11 | |
Alan Wild, author and narrator of A Walk on the Wild Side, is a leading expert and practitioner in global employee relations. Over a long career, Alan led global employee relations for Guinness, IBM, and Amazon; he was a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization and later its CHRO; and has conducted consulting assignments in more than 100 countries and for many of the 400 CHRO members of the HR Policy Association. The ”Wild Side” was first released in 2020 and became an immediate success with more than 6,000 regular listeners in 60 countries. After a three-year pause and having hung up his cleats with Amazon, Alan is re-launching this new and updated version of the podcast to cover the large and complex landscape of modern employee relations. The first episode of the new series looks at how a role that barely existed 30 years ago has become an essential part of business success in the modern world. It discusses the business, political, legal, and social reasons that make the successful management of international employee relations such a key role today. Key Takeaways:
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| 15 Apr 2020 | Ep. 08 — Social Networks and Employee Complaints (Part One) | 00:14:13 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This episode is the first in the series of dealing with the impact of social networks on employee relations today. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses individual employee grievances on social networks. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today. The grievance processes employers have relied upon for years have become unfit for purpose today. The new online, ‘social’ model encourages people to speak out publicly and in large numbers. Companies consider socially-driven complaints as the third most significant risk to their reputation after cybersecurity. Offering only one side of the story, individual social complaints and grievances are often protest focused not resolution focused. So, how can companies acknowledge and respond quickly to individual complaints and grievances before they virally escalate? This episode offers ten tips.
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Resources: awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 16 Jun 2020 | Ep. 23 — Decoding France: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:18:08 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is a short yet detailed overview of employee relations in France. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the important issue of consultation and the way the employment law in France has been changing in recent years. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
The French economy is diversified across all sectors but oriented towards service-based businesses which make up about 70% of GDP. The French government still has full or partial ownership of many large companies and maintains a strong presence in some sectors. In 1982 bucking the trend of other developed nations, President Mitterrand ruptured with capitalism and increased a socialist influence into French businesses. That said, France is one of the most difficult countries in the world for Employee Relations professionals. particularly when it comes to making changes in workforce shape and size. France has recently witnessed major reforms in employment law designed to add flexibility in what was a very restrictive environment.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 27 Feb 2020 | Ep: 01 — An Introduction to the Welcome to the Wildside Podcast: Why it’s Important for Business to Get Employee Relations Management Right | 00:09:33 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this first episode of the series, host Alan Wild addresses formal negotiations, works councils, the international framework for labor rights, and the impact of social networking on employee relations. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
How and where work is done has moved on, and a new definition of employee relations matters more today than it ever did. And, as the world of old school labor relations shifts into the modern world of employee voice, listening and responding to employee voice in traditional, and not so traditional ways, is today more important and global than ever.
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| 09 Jun 2020 | Ep. 20 — What’s Going On In Mexico – Turning Labor Relations On It's Head? | 00:14:59 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is about one of the most turbulent countries in the world in terms of the current Employee Labor Relations climate, Mexico. In this episode, host Alan Wild offers insight on the immediate and important decisions almost every company in Mexico needs to make. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
In 2019, Mexico’s unique and long-standing version of trade union recognition and collective bargaining was disrupted. Understanding both what is happening today and what is at stake is key for companies seeking to make sound decisions and avoid pitfalls such as the most damaging strike the world has seen in recent times in the border city of Matamoros. It was organized by a lawyer on social networks and involved 90,000 workers in 90 companies. The strike secured a massive pay raise and led to the formation of a brand new industrial trade union in Mexico. Let’s look at the sweeping changes that will be implemented until 2024, the deep-rooted trade unions, and the old labor code in this interim country profile.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 05 Jun 2024 | Ep:14 — Germany: Powerful Works Councils & Balanced Efforts | 00:16:18 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast is a whistle-stop tour of Germany designed to give you enough knowledge to ask the right questions of your German colleagues. Germany is the world's most successful exporting nation due to domestic efficiency likely due to its co-determination rights, sectoral collective bargaining system, and the fact that works councils have existed there since 1919. Today, German companies employ true employee relations experts, and understanding employee relations is a right of passage for every German HR leader and most line managers, and they, by and large, do it well.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey | |||
| 26 May 2020 | Ep. 17 — Decoding USA: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:13:09 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is a country-specific employee relations profile for the United States of America. In this episode, special guest Rick Warters discusses trade union representation and collective bargaining in the U.S. Rick runs the Employee Relations course at the University of Connecticut and is the brain trust behind this podcast series.
As part of Roosevelt’s New Deal, the National Labor Relations Act was born to address the inequality of power between workers and employers, it also attempted to eliminate obstructions to free-flowing commerce. This policy is still in place today. Several unique elements distinguish US Labor Relations including the concept of exclusive representation, the comprehensive collective bargaining agreement, negotiated limitations on the right to strike or lockout, and the resulting brinkmanship on contract expiration. Let’s look at how these differ from international conventions and the impact of time-sensitive collective bargaining agreements.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 05 Feb 2024 | Ep. 06 — Mexico: A Changing Labor Landscape | 00:16:02 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast delves into the intricacies of Mexico, shedding light on its trade unions, labor codes, and recent developments impacting employee relations. In a staggering shift, more than 90% of Mexico's industrial companies were under collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) before May 2023. However, by June 1st, this figure plummeted to less than 20%. Reuters reports that a staggering 139,000 CBAs dissolved in May 2023 alone. Leaving companies used to years of so-called “Protection Agreements” or sweetheart deals with “white“ unions, union-free. Starting in the auto sector, and aided by US colleagues and the USMCA treaty, Mexico’s more militant unions are on the organizing trail. Host Alan Wild unravels the events leading to this significant change, offers insights into the future of trade unions, and explores the considerations companies may be contemplating.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey | |||
| 05 Feb 2024 | Ep. 05 — European Works Councils: An Evolving History | 00:18:28 | |
The fifth episode in the “Wild Side” deals with European Works Councils or EWCs. European Works Councils have become a familiar part of the employee relations infrastructure in Europe over the last 25 years. This podcast describes the evolution of EWC law and practice up to the current proposals from the European Commission for a major revision. Despite employer fears when the laws were passed, most companies reached voluntary agreements prior to the law taking effect. Companies have adapted well and describe most EWCs today as constructive. That assessment may be revised when the laws are likely to be revised during 2024.
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Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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| 03 Mar 2025 | Ep:22 — Holding the Horses — Where AI Meets Organized Labour | 00:11:57 | |
Alan Wild explores the intersection of AI and organized labor, focusing on the challenges of workplace change and restructuring. German works councils are currently overwhelmed with AI technology proposals. AI's impact on gig workers, particularly delivery drivers, may lead to their reclassification as employees. While recent developments in American docks are noteworthy, the full story is more complex.
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| 03 Sep 2024 | Ep:16 — Poland – from Economic crisis to powerhouse | 00:13:12 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast is a national profile of Poland. The title tells the story of Poland since 1989 and looks at how a country in economic crisis in the 1990s turned into one of Europe’s success models and did so on its own terms. When people talk about employee relations in Europe, they often mention works councils, powerful unions with political clout, and sectoral bargaining. Poland is distinctly different, and this episode asks how, why, and how to succeed in employee relations in the country.
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Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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| 01 Apr 2020 | Ep. 06 — China Decoded | 00:10:09 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This episode is the first in the series of country-specific employee relations profiles. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the background of human resources and how employee relations works in practice, in China. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today. China today is the world's largest economy with a workforce 776 million strong. 30% of the Chinese workforce produce 40% of China’s GDP. The first Chinese Labor Code was launched in the 1990s and Human Resource Management wasn’t enacted as a discipline until the mid-90s. The Chinese labor code which is fundamentally based on international labor organization conventions has laws set at multiple levels and some laws have no penalty for non-implementation.
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| 01 Apr 2024 | Ep:10 — International Trade Unions: Who They Are and What They Do | 00:14:09 | |
Wild Side Episode 10 explores international trade unions, their identity, and current priorities. Employee relations professionals often engage with them for expertise in European Works Councils or as targets of global corporate campaigns. These trade unions influence policy through the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UN systems, primarily via ITUC, ETUC, UniGlobal, and IndustriALL. Their focus includes International Framework Agreements and capacity building for the movement.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey | |||
| 01 Apr 2020 | Ep. 07 — Trade Unions, Union Recognition, and Strikes in China | 00:12:03 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This episode is the first in the series of country-specific employee relations profiles. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses Chinese trade unions, Chinese trade union recognition, and industrial action. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today. China has only one trade union, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), and it is the representative of 1.7 million unions. It represents the state and its goal is to promote and maintain harmony in the workplace. Trade union officials are rewarded by meeting sales-type targets and China’s top-down approach, setting up a union is about installing eyes and ears in the workplace. When you step into the world of why and how the ACFTU works it's clear you must leave your developed country experience at the door.
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| 27 Apr 2020 | Ep. 09 — Social Networks, Strikes and Protests (Part Two) | 00:13:34 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is the second of two episodes dealing with the impact of social networks on employee relations today. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses collective action organized on social networks, the new world of employee voice, and employer listening. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
As we increasingly live our lives outside of work on social networks, employees have an additional way to raise individual and collective concerns and to organize protests that can damage not only the delivery of products and services but company reputation and employee engagement. And, as trade unions cease to have a monopoly of voice or may not be the preferred or trusted vehicle for employee views, we need a new set of rules for this new world of employee relations.
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| 05 May 2020 | Ep. 10 — Restructuring: From Replacement to Renewal | 00:13:57 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses how the nature of restructuring is changing and how the restructuring tools we use today are increasingly unfit for their purpose. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
The way we manage restructuring today is increasingly not fit for purpose. Traditional restructuring programs are not only expensive and morale-sapping they result in the separation of the wrong people at the wrong financial price. Voluntary separations tend to be welcomed by the people who believe they can land another job quickly and are less likely to be adopted by those the company needs to move on. Let’s examine how organizations can develop a new restructuring model that meets the needs of the business while creating opportunities for employees.
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| 26 May 2020 | Ep.16 — Decoding Japan: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:14:36 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is a country-specific employee relations profile for Japan. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the distinctive systems of doing business, working and the employment relationship, and the conduct of employee relations in Japan. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
Japan was the world's economic miracle as a result of its post-second world war growth but over the last 30 years it has bumped along in a far less impressive way. Yet, a few of Japan’s big companies still dominate in much of the world. The country has a long history of low unemployment and very low, sometimes negative, inflation. Even with highly structured collective bargaining and over 43,000 unions Japan still struggles with a wide gender pay gap and restrictive dismissal policies. Let’s look at the key issues employee relations specialists need to understand.
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Resources: awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 12 May 2020 | Ep. 11— The United Nations, the ILO and the OECD (Part 1) | 00:13:54 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is the first of three podcasts dealing with the international framework for employee relations. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), international trade unions, and international framework agreements. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
Most National Labor Codes cover similar issues in similar ways. It is because they are based on the conventions set by the International Labor Organization. The ILO is a tripartite body composed of representatives of employers' organizations, trade unions, and governments. They do a huge amount of work in the areas of child labor, forced labor, social security, and small business development, particularly in emerging economies. The ILO was designed to give workers of the world's market economies a voice. In contrast, employers can find their voice in the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Economic Forum, and to an extent the OECD.
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| 04 Mar 2020 | Ep: 04 — Understanding and Managing Works Councils | 00:16:00 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses Works Councils and how to manage them. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today. Works councils have a long history. They exist largely in Europe and in different forms elsewhere, even in China. They are made up of either elected employee representatives, trade union representatives, or more commonly a mix of both. All Works Councils are not equal. But, in every country, they are the heart of introducing change at work. Key Takeaways:
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| 28 Feb 2020 | Ep: 03 — Global Rules for Negotiators: What Rules Apply Wherever You Are and What Rules Vary by Company, Country, and Level of Maturity | 00:14:03 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses trade unions and the source of their power and influence, power-based systems and rights-based systems, and the impact of culture and maturity on collective bargaining. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
There are concepts in global employee relations that are important to grasp. No one can understand the labor codes and practices in all of the countries in which their company operates. But, some broadly-based rules apply across the board. Understanding these concepts helps a global leader manage governance and oversight and to judge employee relations risk effectively.
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| 01 Feb 2025 | Ep:21 — MANAGING GLOBAL EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: TOP 10 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN 2025 — 6-10 | 00:11:49 | |
As the link between senior leaders and the global workforce, Global Employee Relations Managers play a crucial role. This final installment of a two-part series outlines ten essential strategies to help ER managers achieve the most important aspects of their roles, trust, and success. Consider these your 2025 resolutions for navigating the complexities of international employee relations in today's dynamic landscape.
Alan Wild, author and podcast host, outlines strategies 6-10 for global employee relations managers to succeed in 2025, including building a global strategy, enhancing capabilities, leveraging modern forms of collective voice, expanding employee relations beyond the employment contract, and cultivating a strong professional network.
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| 30 Jun 2020 | Ep. 26 —10 Tips for Organizing Employee Relations Functions | 00:18:46 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is the last in the series curriculum for managing employee relations in global and millennial times. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses how companies structure and manage the functions of Employee Relations. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
With the increase in offshoring to new parts of the world, the emergence of corporate campaigns and work of the UN, NGOs, and global trade unions, the European model of employee relations went global. More and more companies started to wonder how the role should be organized and how much they should spend on the function. We began to put together advice on structuring and managing the function, irrespective of budgets, or reporting requirements. These are the top tips we have crafted for the role of Employee Relations Professionals. Remember, the ability to pick up issues and resolve them before they escalate is the true name of the employee relations game today.
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Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 02 Sep 2024 | Ep:15 — Does Sectoral Collective Bargaining Have a Future? | 00:15:13 | |
In this episode of the Wild Side podcast we look at the merits of sectoral collective bargaining, how the Global Employee Relations Leader should view sectoral deals in the countries they cover, and the questions they should be asking when faced with mandatory wage awards. Bargaining at the multi-company level, often supported by legislative extensions of the outcomes to all employees, has long been a feature of Western European and South American employee relations. The system came under pressure during the 2007-2008 financial crisis when steps were taken to maintain the system by allowing companies in difficulty to derogate from sectoral agreements they couldn't afford.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey | |||
| 12 May 2020 | Ep. 13 — The Anatomy of A Corporate Campaign (Part 3) | 00:16:42 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is the third of three podcasts dealing with international trade unions and international framework agreements. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the anatomy of a global corporate campaign, how they are organized, and how to identify your company's vulnerabilities. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
Global corporate campaigns began in the early 1990s and are designed to pressure a company to change its behavior. Global campaigns can be researched and well-planned or based on a mishap at a company. Often, the campaigns have catchy titles and they don't use industrial action or involve strikes or loss of pay for employees. They are directed at a company's reputation by impacting its clients, customers, investors, and governments. This is an overview of what is a complex and important issue for many companies.
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| 04 Mar 2024 | Ep:08 — Activist Capture | 00:15:18 | |
This new episode of The Wild Side podcast deals with Activist Capture. Host Alan Wild describes the two forms of activist capture and shares regional examples of how it might play out. The first is where low voting in Works Council ballots results in the election of members who put their own interests before those of the people they represent. A similar issue is faced where thresholds for trade union representation are very low, and militant unions secure bargaining rights for the workforce despite having few members. The phenomenon is observed in rights-based employee relations systems and is a growing issue for Tech companies with no history of works council organization or trade union membership. The second form of activist capture is where internal company issues are hijacked by militant activists for their purposes, explode out of control in social and mainstream media, and are judged in the court of public opinion.
Key Takeaways:
Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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| 09 Jun 2020 | Ep. 21 — Poland Decoded | 00:13:34 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is a country profile of Poland, using Poland as a broader proxy for much of Eastern and Central Europe. In this episode, host Alan Wild offers insights on Poland’s trade unions and growing economy. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
Poland is the largest of the Central and Eastern European countries in the European Union. It has a population of 38.5 million people and a working population of 17.6 million. Poland's manufacturing sector is very competitive on a world scale. Large modern industrial sites have been born after the acquisition of old, state-owned companies and highly incentivized foreign direct investment from the US and Western Europe. Outside of manufacturing Poland continues to build a substantial IT sector around its capital city, Warsaw. Economically, Poland suffered more than most after 1990 yet has since recovered more spectacularly. Let’s look at the likely factors that led to Poland to have the largest economy in its region.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 19 May 2020 | Ep. 14 — Decoding India: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:14:48 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This is a country-specific employee relations profile on India. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the three distinct labor sectors in India, the motivation behind the frequent strikes, or bandhs, and what to expect in the business of human resources there. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice in chief human resources offices today.
India has a long history of Human Resource Management and there are a lot of talented Indian human resource people that rise to the top of international businesses. Unlike countries in Latin America, Western Europe, and North America, labor relations in India requires a specific skill set and is different from the ‘rite of passage’ to senior human resource roles that exist in other countries. Old school employee relations skills are applied to India’s manufacturing industry and are complex, hardball, and need to be thoroughly understood. With a bureaucratic labor code and politically affiliated trade unions, it is imperative for employee relations managers to fix individual concerns fast.
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| 01 Apr 2024 | Ep:09 — Social Networks and New Forms of Collective Action | 00:14:15 | |
This is the second of the Wild Side podcasts’ addressing the impact of social networks on employee relations. In this episode, Host Alan Wild looks at non-traditional forms of collective action such as protests and disputes organized not through trade unions, but by employees orchestrating collective voice by leveraging social media tools. It also explores cases where employees have joined together to overturn agreements reached by untrusted trade unions. Are union-free companies immune to protests or strikes? This episode challenges outdated assumptions that haven't stood the test of time.
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Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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| 08 Jan 2024 | Ep. 04 — The Anatomy of a Corporate Campaign | 00:14:04 | |
The fourth episode of the “Wild Side” details the anatomy of a corporate campaign, what they are, how they are organised, and how to identify a company's vulnerabilities. National corporate campaigns began in 1899. Today, global campaigns go viral with the help of social media. Tools of the trade are not strikes or workplace labour sanctions but actions that damage a company’s reputation in the eyes of customers, legislators, politicians, shareholders, and the public. Notable real-world examples are “Killer Coke”, “Rotten Apple”, “The Real Toy Story”, “Just Stop It”, and “Make Amazon Pay”.
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| 30 Jun 2020 | Ep. 25 — Keeping Up-to-Date in Less Than 2 Hours a Week | 00:13:02 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast contains resources to help you be the best Employee Relations Specialist you can be. In this episode, host Alan Wild introduces guest host, Tom Hayes, who is an integral part of the knowledge base behind this series of Employee Relations related podcasts to explain how he maintains his expertise. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
As an Employee Relations professional, how do you keep up to date with the vast amount of global information in the labor relations and trade union industry? With all the information available, how do you organize the data to make the best use of your time? If you have been in search of the best resources and would like to better organize your information gathering process this episode with Tom Hayes, an industry expert is a must-listen.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 08 Jan 2024 | Ep. 03 — The International Framework for Employee Relations: What’s Behind it All? | 00:14:42 | |
This episode of the “Wild Side” presents an overview of the international framework for employee relations. Why do the employment laws in every country differ slightly but cover the same issues? It is because the framework for international labour law comes from the International Labour Organization (ILO). 190 ILO Conventions guide national lawmakers. Initially intended for governments, ILO Conventions have found their way into employee relations work in international companies. Host Alan Wild explains how the international framework for employee relations developed and which organisations are behind it all.
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| 17 Mar 2020 | Ep: 05 — European Works Councils | 00:26:18 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the essential basics of European Works Councils (EWC). Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today. Most companies with a significant footprint in Europe have a Works Council even though they are not mandatory. The EWC Directive is simple. It provides a forum through which the central management in transnational undertakings can inform and consult with employees representatives on issues of transnational importance.
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Resources: awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 02 Jun 2020 | Ep. 19 — The Future Structure of Employee Relations | 00:16:16 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is about measuring employee engagement. In this episode, host Alan Wild offers insight on where the world of employee relations and employee engagement interface. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
In the past 30 years, much has changed concerning employee voice. In the old days of labor relations, many companies saw trade unions and Shop stewards as a kind of industrial interpreter. As time passed, management began speaking directly with employees and employee attitude surveys emerged. Two streams of worker voice management began to emerge. One with union workforces and the other with non-union workforces. Labor Relations and Employee Relations roles emerged as two distinct disciplines. With the advent of technology and social networks, two worlds of employee listening and response came together, and the worlds of employee relations and employee engagement merged. Let’s focus on how, in these millennial times, we can use listening and responding tools to get ahead of the game.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 27 Feb 2020 | Ep: 02 — How Employee Relations Went "Global": 1989 was a Pivotal Year and How a Modern Global Campaign Works | 00:08:17 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. In this episode, host Alan Wild shares a history lesson about how labor relations became employee relations, how local issues became global, and how the role of the Global Employee Relations Specialist was born. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
Discover how the influence of trade unions faded when three pivotal shifts took place in the global industrial landscape. And, how after the fall of the Berlin wall, labor relations joined across borders, large economies joined the world’s traded market, and employee relations was born. The ever-evolving employee relations landscape currently includes international trade union generated corporate campaigns and employee centered collective action through social media.
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| 30 Jun 2020 | Ep. 24 — Supply Chain Developments | 00:13:01 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is about the future of supply chain management. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses how changes in hard and soft law increase the importance of supply chain management for Employee Relations Professionals. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
Supply Chain management today is a high-value item at the UN, the European Union, and many national governments. It's also increasingly important for those seeking to develop corporate campaigns. Ten years ago there were few laws and regulations requiring businesses to implement human rights due diligence processes and to report on human rights risk management. As global labor standards are universally adopted, national governments are embracing the Ruggie principles and passing new legislation that will focus on the global supply chain. As momentum grows for stronger government action and the introduction of mandatory measures to address business-related human rights impact, now is the time to recalibrate enterprise risk and give greater consideration to your supply chain.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 01 Feb 2025 | Ep:20 — MANAGING GLOBAL EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: TOP 10 STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN 2025 — 1-5 | 00:21:24 | |
As the link between senior leaders and the global workforce, Global Employee Relations Managers play a crucial role. This two-part series outlines ten essential strategies to help ER managers achieve the most important aspects of their roles, trust, and success. Consider these your 2025 resolutions for navigating the complexities of international employee relations in today's dynamic landscape.
Author and Podcast Host Alan Wild explores the first five strategies for success for global employee relations managers in 2025. They are establishing visibility and trust, early engagement, assuring rapid response, risk mapping, and prediction, and creating an event calendar.
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| 03 May 2024 | Ep:11 — Dealing with Grievances in a Social World | 00:15:07 | |
This is the first of two Wild Side podcasts addressing the impact of social networks on employee relations. In this episode, Host Alan Wild suggests that current internal grievance procedures are not fit for purpose in a world where employees have become used to rating their experiences in real-time using leading-edge technology. It suggests that improvements must be made in company processes but concludes they will never compete with retail and hospitality practices. The answer is to get ahead of the game by continually listening to employee voice, and predicting and addressing issues before complaints and grievances are made.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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| 04 Dec 2023 | Ep. 02 — Global Employee Relations: Things to Know Before You Jump In | 00:12:12 | |
This episode of the “Wild Side” examines the key concepts that enable the international Employee Relations Specialist to tackle issues with empathy and success. Much of the day-to-day work involves jumping from country to country and dealing with multiple issues in different contexts. There are some ideas that make issues easier to understand and resolve. Is the country system power-based or rights-based? How mature are the employee relations? And, how culture matters and understanding risk play an important part in the role. Key Takeaways:
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| 16 Jun 2020 | Ep. 22 — Decoding Germany: An Employee Relations Profile | 00:15:56 | |
Welcome to the Wild Side, a podcast that discusses the world of modern employee relations ten minutes at a time. This podcast is a short overview of employee relations in Germany. In this episode, host Alan Wild discusses the historical and cultural factors that influence Germany’s employee relations. Alan is the Global Affairs Director of the HR Policy Association, the leading voice of chief human resources offices today.
The Federal Republic of Germany is split into 16 states and is well-placed for international trade with nine national borders both to the East and to the West. It is considered Europe's industrial powerhouse with 25% of the country's 46 million workers producing about one-third of the GDP. And, two-thirds of Germany’s workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements. Recent developments have led to deviations and flexibility in previously rigid bargaining agreements. Works Councils and Supervisory Boards are all about establishing and managing constructive relationships. Let’s dive into the rarely replicated German employee relations framework.
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awild@hrpolicy.org
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| 21 Apr 2020 | Bonus — The Coronavirus and Business – How will your company be remembered? | 00:09:41 | |
This is a special edition of the Wild Side podcast. It falls outside the curriculum of the program ”Managing Employee Relations in Global and Millennial Times … ten minutes at a time”. In this podcast, the full program team – Auret van Heerden, Rick Warters, Tom Hayes and Alan Wild set out their thinking on how business is tackling the Coronavirus pandemic. Unlike the crisis of 2008, business was not the cause of the current crisis … but business behaviors will in large part determine how we work our way through it and how quickly and strongly we emerge from it. The team pose the question … “How will your company be remembered?” They go on to suggest 10 actions that businesses can take if they wish to go down in this episode in history as “heroes” rather than “villains”.
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| 03 May 2024 | Ep:12 — Japan: Navigating Employee Relations in a Unique Culture | 00:15:15 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast delves into the distinctive nuances of Japan and its unique approach to managing employee relations. With an astonishing 98% ethnic Japanese population, Japan's management landscape is intricate. Despite being an economic miracle in the post-World War II era, Japan has faced hurdles over the last three decades. Host Alan Wild explores the challenges of performance management and sheds light on the persisting gender equality challenges and the unique collective bargaining system. Discover how Japan's influential keiretsu, rooted in Shogun history, continues to wield global significance amid the country's evolving economic trajectory.
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awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey | |||
| 05 Jun 2024 | Ep:13 — Productivity Challenges and the Employee Relations Specialist | 00:12:06 | |
This episode of the Wild Side podcast focuses on where the next major productivity gains of multinational corporations will come from. Over the last 30 years, major productivity surges have come from challenging the power of organized labor, outsourcing non-core activities, and the wholesale offshoring of manufacturing and service provision abroad. The demand for companies to produce year-over-year productivity gains continues at the same time as operating costs have increased in offshore destinations. As a result, companies are taking cost-cutting initiatives in countries that have previously only experienced growth and are replacing people with technology at an increasing pace at home. This brings new challenges into old markets and old challenges into new markets.
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Resources:
awild@hrpolicy.org — Request the 2023 HR Policy Survey
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