Employees are essential in the running of the business, and that is why they should be treated as such to ensure success. One way a company can maintain good relations between the employees and employer is by having an effective employee relations strategy. This shows that a company is taking steps to manage how the employer and staff relate. A company with an effective employee relations strategy treats its employees fairly, which may also help in employee engagement and consequently increased performance and productivity.
How can a company create an effective employee relations strategy?
Treat employees as stakeholders. Instead of viewing employees as laborers, they should be given more value and regarded as stakeholders. They will feel they are valued, and their efforts are not equated to the pay slip they receive.
Have policies. Procedures and policies address matters related to employee and how to resolve problems. These ensure that company policies are followed, and employees concerns and issues are addressed.
Communication. An effective employee relations strategy should streamline communication between employers and the employees. The employer should inform staff about changes taking place in the organization, the plans that management has and their effect on employees. This information can be relayed using meetings, newsletters, and emails. On the other hand, employees should air their grievances to the management.
Employee recognition. Employees can feel their efforts do not go to waste if there is recognition. Effective employee relations should have measures in place where excellent results are rewarded. This way, the employees are encouraged to perform well.
Mutual workplace culture. For an employee relations strategy to be effective, it should promote a culture that aims at achieving the company's goals. The culture should be based on values shared between the employees and the management. This helps to promote cohesiveness and reduce conflicts in the workplace between the employer and the employees.
Interest in employee's career growth. A company that is interested in the career growth of its employees reduces turnover and improves staff relations. It can achieve this by encouraging staff to learn new skills either from other employees or managers, initiating training on areas where employees need to improve based on appraisals or even paying for employees' tuition.
Compensation. An effective employee relations strategy should factor in compensation. The payment that employees receive can make them feel good or bad about their work. Therefore, it is imperative that a company should pay the employees well. This can also be implemented in terms of bonuses, flex hours, skill silos and job sharing.