Question

How is the Suggestion systems going get employees involved with safety?

Answer 1

Employees are the best source of any organization. The term "Suggestion System" is sharing ideas, proposals, views etc to the higher management for the betterment of employees. It is considered to be a two way channel between the employees and the management where they share the ideas enormously and the management may accept or reject the suggestion as per the need of the business determining the policies and procedures followed by an organization.

The ideas that are generated by the employees can cover anything such as putting a microwave or vending machine in the pantry area or they can also submit the suggestion related to cleanliness of the workstation. So, the ideas can be it any form which the employees "feels or thinks" while spending a day in an organization. Moreover, there are ideas to improve the operational process of an organization, those are called "Process Improvement" Ideas. "Employee Suggestion system" can be defined as a variety of efforts taken by the employees to enhance the ongoing business of an organization which will lead to improving product quality, cost saving, enhancing customer experience etc.  

The first suggestion box was started at General Electric in 1906, by putting a blank paper in each department and asking the employees to put suggestion to improve the company's manufacturing process and other operational process. This was came into picture when an employee was terminated from an organization because of giving a view to improve the current process of an organization. Today, the suggestion box has become an practice in every organization.

Importance of suggestion system:

A successful suggestion must be implemented in every organization as it has great importance, some of the importance are listed below:

• Motivates Employee of the company : The suggestion box will motivate the employees for giving more suggestion and they will feel that they a great positivity in work environment.
• Increase the Revenue of the company : The ideas of an employees will have a greater impact on an organization as they may lead to huge profits of an organization.
• Job Satisfaction: The participation in employee suggestion program will creates a job satisfaction amongst employees as they are positively influenced by an organization
• Built Team work : An employee suggestion program will help employees to flush out the suggestion by collaborating together and implement them. This will built a team work amongst employees.
• Health and Safety : Employees are the best source to tell what will keep them safe and healthy. Therefore, these suggestion helps a lot in maintaining the health and safety of employee.

Now, let us discuss how can we engage employees to participate in the Employee Suggestion Program.

An "Engaged Employee" in one who is fully engaged with the organizational interest and feel enthusiastic about their work. Those employees knows what they are doing for them and for the organization and what they bring to the table which will help in organizational growth. On the other hand, an "Disengaged Employee" will show no interest in organizational goals which in turn leads to dissatisfaction and no ownership towards work.

The Employee engagement can also be seen if the employees are involved in the work processes and the activities of an organization. They can be engaged in different ways such as:

• Conduct a brainstorming session with the employees in which nothing should be rejected unless and until the ideas are presented by the employees
• In a weekly meeting, engage the employees to present the ideas on a specific topics such as create a scenario in front of them and see how much they can think and provide the idea
• Organize a monthly lunch with the team to motivate them to submit at least one suggestion.
• Encourage managers to bring at least four suggestion from the employees and present them in a meeting.
• All those suggestion which are accepted by the higher management must be rewarded.

Suggestion systems should be implied keeping in mind the safety of employee also. It means that all those ideas or suggestions coming from employees are kept confidential and feedback is transported on individual basis. Organizations safety is also taken into consideration while implementing these suggestion.