Employee Relations
Laying the land for your workers
By Jeremy Otte
In today’s complicated business world, it is essential for small business owners to be able to manage employee relations effectively. Failing to do so can result in poor leadership of the company or loss of profits due to lack of cohesiveness between employees. If practiced properly, good management of employee relations can create an environment which will help your company expand to its fullest potential.
Often, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations of a business and forget that employees are an extension of the company itself. The way that employees interact with and feel about each other should be of prime concern to the savvy business owner. Here are some tips, reminders and approaches that will help make managing employee relations less frustrating:
- Who’s the boss? Make sure all employees understand the chain of command. It should be clear, with no gray areas. This leaves no room for bickering between employees with similar ranks.
- By (or Buy) the book. Literally, buy the book. Handbooks are a great way to set guidelines, rules and policy in writing. Main points should include sick and vacation policy, dress code, order of discipline, employee expectations and any other items that could create problems in the workplace. If properly created, a handbook will eliminate any incongruence between employees.
- Balance the equation. Be sure to treat all employees fairly. Word of mouth is still the quickest means of communication, and one act of discrimination can lead to workplace turmoil, not to mention a lawsuit.
- Open the door. Employees should have an open line of communication to a higher authority. They need to know that if something goes awry they have a place to turn. Communicate the “open door” policy on a regular basis. The feedback generated is worth its weight in gold.
- Meeting of the minds. Hold regular meetings that include all employees. This not only increases their sense of worth in the company, but also promotes the “open door” policy. Let everyone have a voice in the meeting, but be sure to remain focused and in control. Let individuals come to you after the meeting for any personal items, or anything that could not be covered during the meeting time.
- Think tanks. When there is a problem that needs to be solved, put together one or several teams of employees to come up with a solution in a predetermined amount of time. Not only does this promote teamwork, it can also be a lot of fun.
- Construct a trophy case. Employee recognition is the number one indicator in job satisfaction. Recognize employees for any special contributions they have made to the company. Designate an area to display these achievements. Besides the boost in moral, this also helps promote healthy competition between employees.
Although the above tips and tricks do not constitute the most comprehensive guide to employee relations, they do provide a starting point for a solid foundation. Just remember that being proactive is always better than being reactive in the field of employee relations.
