Exploring the mechanisms of influence of ethical leadership on employment relations

Alarmed by the frequent recurrence of industrial unrest, scholars in the field of employment relations have started to revisit the factors influencing employees' perception of industrial relations climate. This paper proposes ethical leadership as a key ingredient in developing positive employment relations in organisations. Looking at the leader as a crucial link between employee and management, the effect of ethical leadership on employee voice behaviour through the perceived industrial relations climate is studied from the lens of social support theory. Further, the model looks at the negative association between ethical leadership and union commitment. Interestingly, ethical leadership shapes the ethical climate which, in turn, influences employees' perception of the industrial relations climate. The proposed conceptual model integrates three key participants of employment relations viz., unions, employees, and leaders. Implications of the model for future research and practice have been discussed in detail.