Research and Publication Ethics

The Employee Relations Law Journal (ERLJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity, publication ethics, and academic excellence. The journal expects authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers to adhere to internationally recognized ethical principles throughout the publication process. ERLJ follows the ethical guidelines and best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is dedicated to ensuring transparency, fairness, and integrity in scholarly publishing.

Research Integrity

Authors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts represent original research conducted honestly and ethically. Data presented in manuscripts must be accurate, reliable, and honestly reported. Fabrication, falsification, manipulation of data, or misleading presentation of research findings constitutes serious research misconduct and will not be tolerated.

Originality and Plagiarism

Submitted manuscripts must be entirely original and must not have been published previously or be under consideration by another journal. All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and inappropriate citation practices may result in immediate rejection or retraction of the published article.

Authorship

Only individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be appropriately acknowledged.

Human and Animal Research

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional or national regulations. Authors should obtain approval from an appropriate ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB), where required, and include an ethical approval statement within the manuscript. Informed consent should be obtained from human participants whenever applicable.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research, peer review, or editorial decision-making process. Any potential conflicts of interest should be declared at the time of submission or review.

Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to retain original research data and make supporting data available upon reasonable request whenever possible. Data should be presented accurately and should not be manipulated in a manner that could mislead readers.

Peer Review Ethics

ERLJ follows a Single-Blind Peer Review process. Reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts objectively, fairly, confidentially, and without personal bias. Reviewer identities remain confidential, and unpublished information obtained during peer review must not be used for personal advantage.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based solely on the scientific merit, originality, significance, and relevance of submitted manuscripts. Editorial decisions are made without discrimination based on nationality, gender, race, religion, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs. Editors also ensure that all ethical concerns are handled fairly and confidentially.

Corrections and Retractions

If significant errors, ethical concerns, or research misconduct are identified after publication, the journal may publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions as appropriate. Such actions are taken to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Misconduct and Ethical Violations

The journal takes allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously. Cases involving plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, image manipulation, citation manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or unethical research practices will be investigated in accordance with COPE recommendations. Depending on the findings, the journal may reject the manuscript, retract the published article, notify the authors' institutions, or take other appropriate editorial actions.

The Employee Relations Law Journal (ERLJ) is dedicated to fostering responsible research practices and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing for the benefit of the global academic and professional community.