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Garfield Esq  
#1 Posted : 12 July 2013 16:52:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Garfield Esq

Trying to come up with some effective ways to engage with employees. Any ideas? The usual... Management walkrounds - less formal Information talks on future developments Summer BBQs Interactive training Appraisals
happybluebuddha  
#2 Posted : 12 July 2013 17:11:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
happybluebuddha

Hi, some things that I've done recently that have worked well: - asked employees to give short presentations at senior managers' meetings on topics they feel strongly about - asked for volunteers to write an in-house safety survey with me and help analyse the results - ask for feedback on projects i'm working on, I'd often send an email to a few random employees asking if they wouldnt mind acting as a sounding board hope it helps Elisa
Kate  
#3 Posted : 12 July 2013 18:21:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Listen to them.
John J  
#4 Posted : 14 July 2013 07:58:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John J

Listen and act on their concerns. Provide loads of feedback even when your saying no.
Judex  
#5 Posted : 14 July 2013 09:06:53(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Judex

Get leaders of Trade Union on your side, others will follow
frankc  
#6 Posted : 14 July 2013 10:50:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
frankc

John J wrote:
Listen and act on their concerns. Provide loads of feedback even when your saying no.
And the winner is....
Corfield35303  
#7 Posted : 15 July 2013 16:17:51(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Corfield35303

What John and Frank say, but a good starting point at the front Garfield. Being a 'transformational' leader/organisation that engages employees usually involves three broad activities: 1. Being committed to the welfare (and safety) of employees. 2. Being committed to the development of employees (including beyond their role). 3. Consistent high quality communication about the priorities of the business. All of these require good quality personal interaction with employees, this means listening lots, honesty and being accessible.
Invictus  
#8 Posted : 16 July 2013 07:34:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus

Corfield35303 wrote:
What John and Frank say, but a good starting point at the front Garfield. Being a 'transformational' leader/organisation that engages employees usually involves three broad activities: 1. Being committed to the welfare (and safety) of employees. 2. Being committed to the development of employees (including beyond their role). 3. Consistent high quality communication about the priorities of the business. All of these require good quality personal interaction with employees, this means listening lots, honesty and being accessible.
or use words and terms they understand!
A Kurdziel  
#9 Posted : 16 July 2013 09:01:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

All good but your senior managers must sell the H&S message: they should talk to staff; listen to what they say and make them believe that H&S is actually important. I have taken senior managers around our site on tours and some of them a) are surprised at what they find- they not been out of the executive suite for months (years) and don’t know what is happening on the ground and b) spend as much time complaining about the ‘wasted space’ and ‘underused facilities’ as they do about asking about H&S issues. This gives the staff a very poor impression and probably causes more harm than good.
IanDakin  
#10 Posted : 16 July 2013 09:50:31(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
IanDakin

Do what you say you will do.
Green40204  
#11 Posted : 16 July 2013 10:26:02(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Green40204

In my experience it has to start with Management if they believe in it it filters down when they dont put H&S at the top of there priorities its doesnt take long for the work force to figure it out. Its then always an issue when on site cause you end up dealing with the simple things and cant focus on the big issues.
potts2030  
#12 Posted : 16 July 2013 11:22:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
potts2030

as Ian said do what you say you will do and : Be seen Talk to people Be friendly Offer solutions
mchap1962  
#13 Posted : 16 July 2013 11:40:23(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
mchap1962

Spot on Ian. Don't over promise, manage expectations from both sides and be honest with yourself and the workforce.
Invictus  
#14 Posted : 16 July 2013 11:44:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus

Feedback, this is one of the main things that I have found people find it frustrating when they do not get feedback.
Graham Bullough  
#15 Posted : 16 July 2013 11:53:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Graham Bullough

To add to the vital advice about talking to people, DO talk to people of ALL levels and status within an organisation. This includes those who are usually perceived by most people as unimportant/insignificant because they do menial low-paid work. Over the years I've talked to cleaners, caretakers, janitors and other often "unseen" workers and found them to be interesting and informative because they tend to be far more observant and perceptive than most people would think. Also, in order to earn sufficient money, some of them have other jobs. As a result they can also tell you about issues which affect other areas of work.
Mnasrallah  
#16 Posted : 16 July 2013 12:09:02(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mnasrallah

I have to say I agree with everything on here. My tried and tested way was a little bit of everything really. After a lot of persuasion we'd gotten the project management team (Vice President, Project Director, that level) to do weekly informal tours. Some weeks they'd tour the site purely from the car (in their defense its a 1mil ft2 site) while others they would choose a plant and go top to bottom. This had such a positive impact and it was little things like the management team actually wearing the site uniform, and asking questions on how people were performing certain tasks that gave the best impact. It showed interest and gave the workers a sense of pride. The other thing we did was engaging different departments to come and join us for inspections, comment on our awareness campaign, and send them feedback (positive and negative) from our audits/inspections. Where we'd identified unsafe conditions, we would ask the workers how they think it could be done more safely. Once the workforce realises you care and seek out to support them on the job as opposed to point the finger, they tend to cooperate. This also means recognising your own limitations and being honest about what can and cannot be provided to them.
KieranD  
#17 Posted : 24 July 2013 15:09:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
KieranD

Garfield Depending on how objectively you measure the 'effectiveness' (and cost-effectiveness) of whatever you do as well as the 'engagement' of people at different levels (by contrast with 'compliance'), you can learn a lot from research in the journals Safety Science and the Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology with data from hundreds of companies in different countries. If you want specific references, you're welcome to PM me
SP900308  
#18 Posted : 24 July 2013 15:19:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

Sounds like the title of a book written by David Brent - the Master!
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