The Employee Relations Law Journal (Empl. Relat. Law J.) is committed to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring that all published work is original, properly attributed, and free from plagiarism and other forms of inappropriate textual reuse. To support this commitment, the journal uses Turnitin as its primary plagiarism and similarity-detection tool.

Mandatory Plagiarism Report

All authors are required to submit a plagiarism/similarity report generated through Turnitin together with their manuscript at the time of submission.

The report must correspond to the submitted version of the manuscript and should be sufficiently recent to allow the Editorial Office to assess the originality of the work.

Manuscripts submitted without the required plagiarism report may be returned to the authors for completion before the editorial assessment proceeds.

Editorial Similarity Screening

In addition to the report submitted by the authors, the Editorial Office may conduct its own similarity screening using Turnitin or an equivalent reputable similarity-detection system.

The journal may screen manuscripts at different stages of the publication process, including during initial submission, revision, or prior to publication.

Assessment of Similarity

A similarity score alone does not establish that plagiarism has occurred. The Editorial Office will consider the nature, source, extent, and context of the identified similarities.

Commonly occurring phrases, properly cited quotations, references, technical terminology, standard legal language, and other legitimate similarities may contribute to a similarity score without constituting plagiarism.

Where substantial or inappropriate similarities are identified, the Editor may request an explanation, revision, additional documentation, or clarification from the authors.

Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

The journal considers plagiarism, duplicate publication, self-plagiarism, unattributed copying, and inappropriate reuse of previously published material to be serious violations of publication ethics.

Where plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct are suspected, the journal may investigate the matter in accordance with its Publication Ethics Policy and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

• Request clarification or an explanation from the authors.
• Require appropriate corrections or revisions.
• Reject the manuscript.
• Suspend the editorial or publication process.
• Notify the relevant institution where appropriate.
• Issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction for published work where warranted.

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and that all sources, quotations, ideas, data, and other third-party material are properly acknowledged and cited.

Authors should review their manuscript carefully before submission and resolve any inappropriate similarities before submitting the final version.

Submission of a plagiarism report does not transfer responsibility for originality to the journal. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality and integrity of their work.

Confidentiality of Reports

Plagiarism and similarity reports submitted to the journal are treated as part of the editorial record and will be handled confidentially. Such reports may be accessed by authorized Editors and editorial staff for legitimate editorial and publication-ethics purposes.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

The Employee Relations Law Journal maintains a strict commitment to originality, proper attribution, and responsible scholarly publishing. Mandatory Turnitin screening, together with editorial assessment and appropriate ethical procedures, helps the journal protect the integrity and reliability of its published scholarly record.