Q: I believe our company has a very good employee/employer relationship. However, is there anything further I can do to strengthen it?
A: Building a solid foundation is important for any business. At the core of that foundation is the relationship between the employer and the employees. While some business owners and managers may not see the importance of establishing a strong rapport with their staff, there are several advantages to doing so that could have a positive effect on your business.
The formation of any working relationship is dependent upon both parties exhibiting a mutual sense of respect and trust. However, getting to this stage often presents its own challenges. Initially, employees demonstrate trust and respect towards their employer due to the fact that they hold their employer’s level of seniority in high esteem. However, if this level of trust and respect is not reciprocated over time, then the chance of garnering any good employer/employee relationship diminishes. There are several steps you can take to develop an effective relationship with your workforce.
Communication represents the heart of the employer/employee relationship. If employees feel they are being kept out of the loop with regards to business activity – specifically your company’s performance and key projects that are emerging – then it may be perceived as though you are hiding something. It is important, therefore, to create a transparent working culture, fuelled by the creation of open and honest dialogue between managers and staff. As a result, employees will feel at ease coming to you with new thoughts and ideas, which serves to increase employee motivation and boost workplace productivity.
Another way to establish a strong management/staff relationship is to demonstrate your gratitude and appreciation for the work your employees do. If you have people who continually deliver work of a high calibre, but you neglect to provide them with recognition, it will ultimately lead to a reduction in their levels of satisfaction. If this behaviour continues, it could result in them looking for jobs elsewhere. By providing staff with both constructive and positive feedback, you will be building their knowledge and improving their performance, which will help retain a skilled workforce while cutting the cost of recruitment.
Developing a strong employer/employee relationship requires mutual investment from all parties involved. If managers lead by example, by opening clear channels of communication and demonstrating appreciation for good performance, then employees will likely show the same degree of respect in return. Placing priority on building a strong employer/employee relationship requires little monetary investment, but the improvements you will see in workplace morale and productivity will be invaluable.
David Price is managing director of Health Assured
