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EXAMPLE SECTION FROM AN IPA REPRESENTATIVES' HANDBOOK
4. COMMON UNDERSTANDING
4.1 What Is Consultation?Consultation is when an organisation seeks the views of its employees BEFORE decisions are taken and takes these views into account when the decision is reached. It must be a two-way process from which any position reached is understood by both parties but not necessarily agreed.
If a decision has already been reached by the organisation before they discuss the matter with their elected representatives, it is simply the exchange of information not consultation.
Through consultation, employees have an opportunity to influence proposals before a final management decision is made - it does not give these employees the right to block or refuse to allow the proposals to be put into practice.
4.2 What The Employee Representatives Can Expect From the Organisation
- a regular flow of appropriate business information including:
- financial results
- quality performance
- competitive pressures
- investments
- new technology
- market conditions
- changes in services
- other matters which will help the representative understand the organisation's business strategy and performance
- the development of an environment where they can contribute their views, raise specific matters of concern and express their aspirations
- to receive these views and take them into account when making decisions
- to be open, communicative and try to avoid surprises by giving information as soon as it is practical to do so - this would be subject to the necessary restrictions of the law, commercial sensitivity and Stock Exchange Regulations
- to support and arrange the provision of training so that they can fulfil their duties and responsibilities effectively
4.3 What The Organisation Should Expect From The Elected Representatives
- to co-operate in the development, operation and success of the consultative arrangements
- to help develop a climate of opinion where obstacles to business success are removed wherever possible
- to develop a deeper understanding of the organisation's business plans and how it operates
- to accurately reflect the views of constituents and to feedback their opinions in as constructive a manner as possible
4.4 Benefits Of Effective ConsultationAs a representative you may be involved in some difficult meetings and the role can sometimes be frustrating. It is always a good idea to remind yourself why you are doing the job and why the whole concept of consultation is a good idea. You may get questioned on this from time to time by the people you represent, so here is a useful checklist:
- Better quality and well-informed decision making
- Increased profitability and productivity
- Committed, informed workforce
- Improved motivation and morale
- Better customer service
- Common goals and improved team spirit
- Staff feel valued and involved in successes
- The organisation learns from the staff's knowledge and experience
- Improved communication
- Change implemented with assistance not resistance
- Promotes and instills openness
- Improved quality and retention of staff
- Increases staff responsibility
- Gives staff a means of expressing ideas, views and opinions
- Staff feel that management are interested in them
- Staff are able to influence management decisions
Even if you do not achieve all of these, and it would be quite an achievement to do so, bringing some of these benefits to your organisation through your work as a representative will be very rewarding for you as an individual and will enhance your own personal development as well.
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