In: Operations Management
Describe the goal of employee relations (ER) programs, and then illustrate how an employer can create a more positive organizational culture through: (a) employee involvement strategies, (b) communicating with employees, and (c) by providing employee feedback. Identify and describe at least one strategy or program in each area (a, b, and c.).
The goal of employee relations program is to increase engagement with the employees by creating conducive work enironment and extending fair and supportive treatment to create a feeling of belongingness and loyalty among them. The broader objective of the ER plan is to enhance the employee -employer relations and align their goals and aspirations with those of the organisation.
Employer can involve the employees in decision making and empower them to take ownership of their processes and actions and thus getting more involved and committed in the work, resulting in higher output and efficiency and a good working culture. An example of employee involvement is formation of high level teams for continuous improvement initiatives.
Communication between the levels is necessary to facilitate free exchange of ideas and elimination of communication gaps that might hinder the information flow and may lead to uninformed decisions that are not properly grounded. The communication brings tranparency and offers greater visibility to the management to see the bigger picture more rationally, while lower level employees' concerns are addressed properly with their voice reaching to the top. An initiative from the management is the open dialogue between ranks.
Employee feedback is an insight "straight from the horse's mouth". It is a honest opinion of the masses, revealing the correct picutre of the processes for the management, and exposing the shortcomings that need to be corrected. The feedback plays the link between the views of employees and management, and is a basis of improvment. An example of feedbck is the 360 degrees appraisal process where an employees is rated by the superiors and subordnates alike.