How to Spot Employers Committed to Employee Involvement

Employers who truly encourage employee involvement design an atmosphere wherein all staff have an effect on decisions and action plans that affect their jobs and the company.

Employee involvement works best as a management philosophy that directly relates to people’s motivation to contribute to decisions and employer operations. Staff feels worthy to contribute because of their respect for the organization and leadership. Employees recognize that their input is welcomed and valued.

If you want to work for an employer that encourages true employee involvement, look for these behaviours:

• Supervisors consistently provide complete, clear direction. Management fully explains decisions and procedures, offering clarity and detailed direction on implementation. This displays concern for staff performance and respect for their abilities.
  
  
• Supervisors welcome staff input in most decision-making activities. Management (all levels) encourages and welcomes employee input during the decision-making process. Even if the employer promises no definitive action based on staff input, management encourages and considers employee feedback. Staff members typically enjoy a sense of respect for their ideas with a belief that their input and contributions have real value.
  
  
• Management actively includes staff to make and implement decisions. In addition to welcoming input, management wants staff to actually help make decisions. Further, after a decision is made, the employer solicits employee ideas to implement new policies and procedures. This philosophy generates a sense of belonging and empowerment for staff.
  
  
• Managers delegate important actions to employees. Most supervisors delegate tasks to staff. However, employers supporting employee involvement delegate important actions and tasks to employees. Compare supervisors who delegate “gopher-related” tasks such as “get coffee, open mail, get someone on the phone for me”, to others who delegate procedure implementation, cost reduction plans or strategic plan fulfilment actions.

Employee involvement really describes a management behaviour and attitude. Supporting employee involvement also reinforces the belief that a company’s employees are the organization’s most valuable asset.

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