By communicating with its workforce at an early stage, businesses - such as those using serviced offices in Edinburgh – could negate the threat of strike action.
This is according to a spokeswoman for Unison, who noted strikes are always a last measure and the number of days spent taking industrial action in the UK have decreased.
She added employers "need to engage with their workforce" and consult with representatives before job cuts or other major changes are implemented.
This will allow firms to ensure problems that may arise from measures they have been forced to introduce are handled better, the representative claimed.
"They need to talk early to their workforce [and] keep them informed … so that they can head off any potential conflict," she stated.
Earlier this month, research carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found half of public sector employees would do whatever they had to in order to protect their job.
