HN347: Unit 8 Workplace Problems & Safety

Unit 8 Key Terms Turnover – “the permanent separation of employees from the organization, because of resignation, retirement, layoff, or discharge” (Buford & Lindner, 2002, currently p. 468) Employee assistance program (EAP) – program designed to help identify and resolve problems with workers caused by various issues, such as drug abuse, mental illness, and marital problems Collective bargaining – “an approach to labor relations in which the employer has a compulsory duty to bargain with the recognized employee union under established procedures” (Buford & Lindner, 2002, currently p. 462)

Symptoms of workplace dysfunction Poor work relationships Substance abuse Workplace violence Employee revenge Employee dishonesty Turnover Absenteeism

Workplace Problems Workforce Demographics ◦ Homogeneous vs. heterogeneous Employee Values ◦ Different generations have different value systems Employee Stress ◦ Peer relationships, Office environment, Economic issues Organizational Factors ◦ Task demands, work relationships, organizational policies Individual Factors ◦ Family conflicts, Personality characteristics

Resolving Problems Supervisory counseling Referrals Employee assistance programs (EAP) Workplace approaches ◦ Organizational Communication – sharing information that informs, motivates and encourages employees ◦ Diversity management – research and training to help resolve issues of difference ◦ Work restructuring – reformatting jobs to fit personality styles or changing people to fit jobs ◦ Work/life initiatives – providing services employees may need to help them lessen the stress in their lives (day care, counseling services, exercise centers)

Labor Relation Approaches Meet and confer: ◦ The employer consents to a discussion with representatives of an employee organization regarding terms and conditions of employment. Collective bargaining: a process that identifies and resolves conflicts between labor and management ◦ Right to form unions ◦ Recognition of union winning majority support ◦ Employer’s compulsory duty to bargain with unions ◦ Management rights clause ◦ Impasse resolution procedures ◦ Union security provisions ◦ Codes of unfair labor practices

Unionization & Collective Bargaining Organizing and determining the bargaining unit Election and certification Contract negotiations ◦ Mandatory issues: wages, hours ◦ Prohibited issues: organizational mission ◦ Permissive issues: other general issues Conducting negotiations Dealing with impasse resolution ◦ Mediation: a neutral 3 rd party helps facilitate process ◦ Fact finding: structured form of mediation ◦ Interest Arbitration: judicial proceeding Strikes by government employees Administering the contract Processing grievances ◦ Supervisory level ◦ Union intervention ◦ Binding arbitration

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