Rick Warters的动态

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Retired , Researching & Writing

I had a great opportunity to engage with students at the New York University School of Law and the Cornell University ILR School last week. "Employee voice" was a common topic and my views stray from the norm and harken back to the days of common sense employee relations. In HR or IR or E&LR, it is our job to create the conditions of work that connect employees with their work in a way that attracts, retains, and engages them in an increasingly productive way. We offer good jobs and we ensure there is a line of sight between the work people do from the shop floor to the board room and the "good" delivered by our organizations. Good jobs with good employers are still a source of leverage - especially in a war for talent. In my view, companies should not weigh in on the socio-political issues of the day. Who determines what is "right" in a world of widely diverse histories, cultures, and opinions? The most inclusive position is one that invites everyone to the WORKplace in a way that makes them want to give their all. Large companies' WORKforces are a reflection of the broader populations around them. In the U.S., roughly 1/3 of adults associate with Republicans, 1/3 associate with Democrats, and 1/3 associate with neither. In any win-lose, zero sum issue on any socio-political cause du jour, a stand-taking company positions itself to disinclude at least 1/3 of its WORKforce. And that's before we consider the implications of any typically U.S.-centric pronouncement on the "rest of world". "But Rick, today's workers want their companies to speak out.", I'm told. As a "labor guy", I was most concerned with what the other side NEEDED. What they WANTED was only interesting. It is our job to lead by example. Create the best WORKplace you can. Demonstrate your values through the conditions of employment you create. Unite your WORKforce around the WORK. Don't divide them with socially important concerns that have no bearing on the design, creation, and delivery of your product or service. Given a chance, they might appreciate time where they can focus in a constructive way with a group of diverse people working toward a common goal. It's not a pipe dream. I wasn't drummed off either campus. I might even be invited back. We engaged in good and thoughtful discussions. That's what moves the needle.

Tom Hayes

Director HR Policy Global [Europe]

10 个月

I agree with my good friend Rick in his comments. Businesses are economic and not political actors. I know others will argue differently, but companies exist to make products or deliver services that people want to buy which is what allows a company to pay its workers, make a profit for its shareholders and invest in the future. Who mandates a company to take a political stand? Rick draws attention to the comments of his class - "but today's workers want their company to speak out". I think this could be more correctly stated as "Some workers want their company to speak out", generally social media activists or "pop-up protesters". Like the wizard in Oz, small voices greatly magnified. If my own politics are left-liberal, which they are, where would that leave me if the company I work for takes a centre-right stand? Now, I do not work for a company, but you get the point. Rick has started an important discussion. I look forward to reading what others have to say.

Alan Wild

Global Employee Relations expert

10 个月

Love you Rick … but I think the days when all companies had to worry about was decent work for the people they had an employment contract with are gone. For right or wrong ESG and the management of multiple stakeholders is alive and thriving. Employees … or should I say dépendant workers … are stakeholders and along with others expect to have a voice and be listened to. I don’t say agreed with but listened to. I think the old definitions of ER, LR, ER/LR are outdated … and we are now in the game of listening and responding to employee voice.

Auret Van Heerden

Founder & CEO at Equiception Business and Human Rights

10 个月

Really interesting post Rick, and great comments from Tom and Alan below. I agree with Alan that the scope has opened up and companies have to engage with a more diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and their issues. The listening you refer to now includes issues of abortion, migration, climate change, personal security, etc. At a recent consultation w/employers organised by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights the IOE and others were raising the issue of what to do in the 60+ countries that criminalise LGBTQ+ activity? I'm not arguing for high profile virtue signalling by companies, but I do think they have to engage with these issues, much as smart companies did in apartheid South Africa...

Sharee Wells

Certified Career Coach helping ambitious or frustrated people negotiate better salaries, benefits, raises, promotions, and advancement.

10 个月

Very interesting post and comments. I'm following and pondering. We do have to be more inclusive and we do need workplaces that focus on getting the work done. There are mutual interests.

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Reema Raphael

Culture & Purpose Strategist | Diversity Professional | Credo Champion | Mentor | Trainer

10 个月

Absolutely, prioritizing a unified and inclusive work environment can truly enhance productivity and engagement.

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