Leading Companies & Markets
You can choose which area of industrial relations you would like to work in. You can look for employment with either state or federal government bodies, employer associations, employee associations (e.g. a trade union), or individual employers.
Most medium to large manufacturing companies employ an IR specialist, as do transport organisations, retailers and telecommunication companies. You may choose to work as a private consultant or specialise even further to become a leading authority on specific activities within the total IR function.
Environment & Culture
Industrial Relations Officers are based in an office, following a standard 9am-5pm work day. However, you will be expected to leave the office to meet with employers or employees and you will be expected to work over-time, as the circumstances demand. You may find the working environment stressful or tense at times, depending on the nature of discontentment between employers and employees.
You may have to deal with unimpressed or angry workers who want to voice their issues. It can be stressful being stuck in the middle of disputes.
About the Author
Michael Cook
Michael has over 20 years of human resources and employee relations experience in the FMCG, Printing, Pharmaceutical and services industries. Many of the HR roles he has occupied have had a large industrial relations component in particular his last role at George Weston Foods where he was the lead industrial relations specialist for the group. Earlier in his career, he gained extensive IR experience, with a particular focus on challenging the traditional enterprise bargaining approach , at the global pharmaceuticals firm GlaxoSmithKline and at Baking Division of GWF. Today his HRD role he has carriage over 40+ enterprise agreements nationally , both union and non-union.
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