Employment relations in the resorts of north-east New South Wales

The tourism and hospitality industry is perceived as being a major contributor to employment growth in Australia and in north-east New South Wales (NSW) in particular. Despite the importance of the sector there has been very little empirical research into employment relations in the industry. This appears to be a major oversight because labour is crucial to gaining a sustainable competitive advantage and in determining the productivity of the industry. This article helps to overcome this problem by analysing the employment relations in the resorts of north-east NSW, an important sector of the region’s hospitality industry and economy. The study examined the employment instruments used, methods of employee selection, remuneration policies, training, and occupational health and safety. The findings indicate that the larger foreign-owned organisations have adopted a more formal approach to these functions than the smaller Australian-owned resorts who have, nevertheless, started to adopt a more professional approach to employment relations strategies.