5 Key Benefits of Employee Representation

image: "how to run and effective meeting" by Nguyen Hung Vu  used under CC BY 2.0

The UK’s ICE regs (Information and consultation of Employees Regulations) give employees, subject to certain conditions, to request that their employer sets up, updates or changes arrangements to inform and consult them about issues within the organisation or business.

Whilst appointing employee representatives and setting up an employee forum may appear onerous it actually offers significant benefit to the organisation, management and employees alike.

IT CAN HELP IMPROVE:
#Communication & Company Performance by ensuring clarity of understanding and removing uncertainly worry and rumour.

#Decision Making and Management Performance because managers have better access to the views of those at the sharp end of the business, ie customer facing and operation employees that have to instigate and deliver organisational strategies.

#Employee Performance and Commitment; engaging in the planning stages and receiving regular updates on progress makes employees feel they are an important part of the business and any plan, project, activity.  When you feel important and valued you are more enthused and committed to delivering goals.

#Reduce unrest and Disruption.  By providing a platform for employees to suggest improvements to practice and process, negotiate on pay and benefits reduces hidden friction which can, if left unaddressed leave to staff leaving, increased #absenteeism, formal union #representation, loss of enthusiasm, moral and output. 

#Improve Customer Service.  Happy motivated empowered employees are likely to deliver a positive can do service to all their #customers, internal and external, whilst an embittered fed up team is unlikely to go the extra mile for any one.

Or putting it all another way having a motivated workforce that goes the extra mile to delivery company objectives is frequently the key to business success an empowered, motivated and effective Employee Rep Group is a way to help achieve this:-

#Employees are often more willing to give their independent views frankly and honestly when they feel free from reprisals, ie individually they can hide behind their employee representative.  

#SeniorManagement is more likely to gain access to the true views of their employees, the views that are often reserved for the toilet and cigarette break. 

#It provides an opportunity to discuss and order priorities, which increases employees' sense of involvement and considerably improve effectiveness and efficiency

#Managers to gauge the likely reaction of employees at an early stage in decision-making
Reduces tension and the clearing up of uncertainty and misunderstandings improves motivation

#Trust and cooperation improves, contributing to better understanding of the need for change, increased acceptability of decisions and improved business performance

#The skills of managers, as well as employee representatives, are developed in areas such as listening, diplomacy, making presentations and problem solving

Managers seem less remote because employees have easier access to them at all levels


TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE:

Ensure the employee reps are trained in their role, straddling the position between staff and management and being honest, in a constructive way, to both is not easy.  Ensuring the Employee Reps receive training on their roles and responsibilities is essential as is follow on training in any specialist areas they may become involved in, for example, disciplinary and grievance hearings, redundancy situations.

Give the Employee Reps time away from their usual work to carry out their employee rep role and duties

Elect an Employee Representative Group Chair Person.  A Chairperson can be highly useful in helping to focus efforts and keep everyone motivated

Ensure Management are Committed and Supportive.  That they attend meeting and do more than pay lip service to ideas and suggestions raised

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Concrew Training provides training, advise and guidance for #employeereps on

their general duties 

as well as the legal complexities they may encounter when involved in:

Employment Law,

Disciplinary and Grievance Issues,

Redundancy, 

etc etc