UNIT – I Lesson 1 HRM – AN OVERVIEW Lesson Outline Nature of ...

• IR has moral dimensions, too. It is unethical on the part of any management to take
advantage of the helplessness of workers and exploit them. IR assumes relevance
in this context. One of its objectives is to protect workers interest and to improve
their economic conditions.
• IR seeks to protect the rights of managers too. Where a worker’s behavior deviates
from expected lines, it is the management’s prerogative to take action.
• There is a set procedure for handling any act of indiscipline or indiscretion on the
part of an employee and if the management satisfies the procedure, tit is justified in
taking action
• IR emphasis the need to keep labour in check by floating stooge unions, buying up
union leaders, and striking clandestine deals with powerful politicians do no good
to mangers or to the organizations they represent.
APPROACHES TO INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Though there are different approaches to industrial relations, the basics of management of
good relations remain the same across all the approaches. These different approaches help
in viewing industrial relations from different perspectives. The different approaches to
industrial relations are:
• Psychological approach
• Sociological approach
• Human relations approach
• Socio-ethical approach
• Gandhian approach
• Systems approach
PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
According to this approach, most of the problems in industrial relations arise because of
the differing perceptions and attitude of the management and the workers. The perception
of both parties (workers and managers) regarding a particular aspect varies and as a result,
some minute issues aggravate into major problems. The different personalities and
strained inter-group and interpersonal relationships add fuel to the fire and increase the
disharmony in the system.