Employment Relations And the Health Service: The Management of Reforms

Employment relations within the health sector have undergone radical reform over recent years. This book is an important new study that examines the responses of managers and workers to these different reforms, at both national and local level.

Bringing together analyses of both employment relations and public sector management, the book focuses on understanding why certain initiatives have been adopted, how managers have responded to them and the consequences of the HR modernisation agenda. Topics covered include:

• HR strategy and structure at the workplace
• employee involvement and union influence
• pay modernisation
• management of work.

Featuring detailed case study research in three NHS trusts, the book illustrates precisely how government policies are implemented in the workplace and in doing so offers a unique insight into the sector's changing work environment. A comprehensive study of atopical area, this book will be of interest to students and academics in health service management, human resource management and employment relations.

Stephen Bach is Reader in Employment Relations and Management at King's College, London.