The ERI is a membership organisation set up to promote and improve employee and workplace relations in the UK.
Andy Cook, executive chair of ERI, told HR magazine about the "bureaucracy" that has delayed the launch. He said: "It's taken a long time but now we've got so much support and important ministerial support things have moved a lot quicker."
Attending the event were some of the sector's leading experts and speakers, including president of the ERI Lord Tom Sawyer, director of policy at CBI Neil Carberry, general secretary designate at TUC Frances O'Grady and leading heads of private and public sector organisations.
Speaking at the launch was minister for employment relations, Jo Swinson (pictured). She said: "A positive workplace environment is good for business. It will help companies attract and retain the most talented people and employers will benefit from more motivated, productive staff.
"Strong managers also make British business credible for trade and investment."
Cook added: "I was disenchanted about the lack of engagement of managers. And there was also a lack of practical measures for employers.
"Hopefully this will help bring everyone together and have a positive effect on employment."
TUC general secretary O'Grady told HR magazine: "We must start to humanise the workplace, take a step back and look at the traditional methods that worked in business and begin to them implement them.
"Some bad decisions were made in this country that got it in a right mess and improving employee relations is one thing that is so important to the growth of the UK."
Cook added: "The ERI aims to improve the state of engagement of managers and employee representatives. It has been apparent that a fundamental issue surrounding the matter was that practical education was needed to educate management, who are sometimes just thrown in at the deep-end without guidance."
