Employee Voice

Posted by: James Stewart on 6th May 2011 at 07:44am

Employee ‘voice’ refers to how employers are able to provide employees with the opportunity to ‘have a say’ regarding work activities and decision making issues that in turn, reinforces a sense of belonging and a belief that one’s actions can have an impact within the organisation in which they work.

The argument is clear. Informing and allowing employees input into work and the decisions process can help create better engagement, more understanding and hence greater commitment to the organisation.  In turn, employee contributions might lead to better focus, behaviours, discretionary effort, improved performance and management processes by tapping into employees’ ideas, knowledge and experience.

Some suggest that ‘voice’ is dependent upon employees being well informed and that the basis on which views and opinions are expressed must be transparent, authentic and in partnership with senior managers, who are prepared to trust, accept and welcome, positive employee dialogue and feedback?

The challenge lies in developing a greater understanding of how employees experience inclusive ‘informed voice’ structures and processes and how these internal communication and contribution mechanisms are best integrated into the organisation. We live in an ever changing business world. Social media and networking is affording employees the power to inform themselves and share information more easily with each other in ways they have never had before and we need to consider what role it might play. The world of work is necessarily evolving from the traditional top-down hierarchical process to one that is much more horizontal and inclusive with truly engaged, action and results-driven employees at the centre.

The need for employee voice is strong and continues to grow yet for many employers and employees, the dividing line is frequently blurred and the jury is still out.