JOB CONSULTATION

Employee communications and

consultation

 Employee communications
 means the provision and exchange of
information and instructions
 enable an organization to function
efficiently
 employees to be properly informed
about developments.
 It covers:
 the information to be provided
 the channels along which it passes
 the way it is communicated.
 Consultation
 is the process by which management and
employees or their representatives jointly
examine and discuss issues of mutual
concern.
 solutions to problems
 views of employees
Importance of Consultation
 improve organizational performance
 improve management performance and
decision-making
 improve employees’ performance and
commitment
 help develop greater trust
 increase job satisfaction
 improve employee engagement
 encourage a more flexible working
environment
Checklist for consultation best practice

 employers intend to make significant

changes at the workplace
 employers propose to change an
employee’s regular roster or ordinary
hours of work
 employers intend to dismiss more than
15 employees at one time for reasons of
economic, technological, structural or
similar nature
 in relation to workplace health and
safety
 employees request flexible working
arrangements
 in the context of good faith bargaining
for an enterprise agreement.
What should be
communicated?
 Information about conditions of
employment
 Information about the job
 Information about the organization
Methods of communication

 Methods include:
 face to face meetings
 company handbooks
 video conferencing
 intranet
 email
 notice board
 organization newsletters
 individual letters to employees.
Consultation in practice
 Stage 1
Provide information to employees about:
 What is being considered

 The process for consideration

 How a final decision will be made and who

will be involved in making the decision.

 Stage 2
Consult by:
 Communicating business needs and priorities
 Seek views and opinions from affected
employees, either individually or through
their representatives Encourage a two-way
flow of information
 Review and improve strategies for
communication flow of ideas and information.
 Stage 3
Review and implementation:
 Consider information and ideas obtained and
asses against business requirements
 Record any decisions made and the reasons why
 Communicate decision and reasons why back to
employees and representatives
 Implement change
 Invite feedback on the process to improve the
next consultation process.
Significant Benefits
 more productive workplaces as a result of greater
cooperation and collaboration
 better and more informed decision making and
successful implementation of ideas
 attraction and retention of skilled and positive
staff
 workplaces that are better able to cope with
change
 minimization of employer/employee disputes
 minimization of employee claims against the
employer.
Key points
 Good employee communications and consultation
can improve organizational and management
performance and also improve decision-making.
 Employers should have a communications and
consultation policy.
 Good communication and consultation should involve
everyone in an organization.
 Consultation involves taking account of as well as
listening to the views of employees.
 Communication is a two-way process - information
should flow up from employees and down from
managers.