| When
we talk about creating a Positive
Employee Relations environment,
it is because you recognize that
the manner in which your employees
are treated will ultimately be
the key factor that will distinguish
your company from other companies
and determine your management
success.
The following outlines the
key elements necessary to create
and maintain a positive employee
relations environment. The responsibility
for these elements will vary.
However, you are clearly able
to control many of the following
elements.
• Progressive and Proactive
Company Policies
• Communications
• Competitive Wages and
Benefits
• Ensuring Legislative
Compliance
• Working Conditions
• Fair Discipline Procedures
• Fair and Open Complaint
Procedures
• Recognition of Employee
Needs
As manager, the ability to be
sensitive, open and responsive
to your employees will help
you to know how to be a better
manager.
• be approachable and
be a good listener
• be proactive - understand
and respond to employee concerns
• be consistent and fair
• give praise and appreciation
for a job well done
• provide information
on time
• keep communication open
with your employees
• provide feedback and
constructive criticism fairly
to everyone
• communicate goals so
employees will know where they
are going
• generate enthusiasm
and be a motivator
• be helpful
• treat all employees
equitably
• define expectations
Remember that employee needs
will be different. Managers
often fail to recognize what
employees need the most and
consequently engage in actions
that lead to associate dissatisfaction.
The following list identifies
some of the common mistakes
which cause discontentment among
associates:
1.
Allowing unfair treatment including
inequities in discipline, or
behaving in a discriminatory
fashion.
2.
Downplaying or ignoring employee
dissatisfaction in the company.
3.
Using pressure tactics and not
leadership, coaching and training
to minimize performance gaps
and secure high productivity.
4.
Failing to listen to employee’s
suggestions and concerns rather
than providing open and accessible
complaint mechanisms.
5.
Introducing major changes in
the company or new policies
without advance notice without
a follow-up explanation.
6.
Maintaining a work environment
that creates job insecurity.
7.
Providing employees with only
a minimum of information regarding
the status of our strategy,
its goals, its sales, service
and production achievement or
non-achievement.
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