THE TERM ‘EMPLOYEE RELATIONS’ WAS CONCEIVED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE TERM ‘INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS’ BUT IT'S PRECISE MEANING IN TODAY’S WORKPLACES NEEDS CLARIFICATION. IN 2010/11, CIPD UNDERTOOK RESEARCH INTO THE CHANGING NATURE OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS WORK IN UK ORGANIZATIONS, THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH HR AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS MANAGERS TO PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF CURRENT ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE.‘INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS’ IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD TO REFER TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVELY. THE TERM IS NO LONGER WIDELY USED BY EMPLOYERS BUT SUMMONS UP A SET OF EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS THAT NO LONGER WIDELY EXIST, EXCEPT IN SPECIFIC SECTORS AND, EVEN THERE, IN MODIFIED FORM.CONSISTENT WITH THE THEORY THAT HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INFLUENCES ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND RISK, WE FIND THAT EMPLOYEERELATIONS EXPLAIN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL VARIATION IN CREDIT RISK. WE CONSTRUCT AN AGGREGATE MEASURE FOR THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYEERELATIONS BASED ON THE FIRM’S ENGAGEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES, AND DOCUMENT THAT FIRMS WITH STRONGER EMPLOYEERELATIONS ENJOY A STATISTICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY LOWER COST OF DEBT FINANCING, HIGHER CREDIT RATINGS, AND LOWER FIRM-SPECIFIC RISK. THESE FINDINGS ARE ROBUST TO THE INCLUSION OF A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF CONTROLS AND TO ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS.THIS REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT EMPLOYEE RELATION ASPECTS INVOLVED IN STARTING, ESTABLISHING, OR EXPANDING AN EXISTING IN AN ORGANIZATION. DESPITE A COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE, STAFF-RELATED CONFLICTS CAN SOMETIMES HAMPER THE PROGRESS OF A ORGANIZATION. SUCH CONFLICTS CAN BE REDUCED BY HAVING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE THAT SET EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING THE HOURS OF OPERATION, PROFESSIONAL MANNER, DRESS CODE, JOB TASKS, PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, AND TERMINATION IF VIOLATIONS OCCUR. UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SET BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, IT CAN HELP ENSURE THAT THE RIGHTS AND WELL-BEING OF EVERY EMPLOYEE ARE PROTECTED.