Chapter Three

Chapter three focuses mainly on employee relations. Such things for employers to keep in mind would be to encourage their employees to think about the company and their work in it and then make suggestions to improve their foundation. The book and I agree that sometimes employers forget about the delight a customer can have depends on the employee satisfaction.

The role public relations plays is done in 4 phases of an employee's work experience:

1. The start: such as info kits, recruitment programs, advertising, etc.

2. On-the-job working conditions: such as feedback systems, trainings, complaint sessions, surveying attitudes, etc.

3. Rewards and Recognition: such as award programs, employee parties, wage increases/bonuses, education events, etc.

4. Work stoppage or termination: such as layoff/boycott programs, a retiree publication, projects to help laid-off employees relocate, etc.

In order for employee relations to be effective, employees must be told information regarding their jobs first, tell the bad along with the good news, provide timelines to stick to and help employers become more reliable of a source. Employees must also be informed on subjects they feel is most important such as organizational plans for the future and job advancement opportunities. The employers should also use the media that employees trust. Such media could be immediate supervisors, small group meetings, top executives giving the info to them, and large group meetings. Employees have surveyed that hearing information regarding their job or the company in general is communicated through the grapevine. This type of communication is the most used yet told by employees is the least favored way to receive information. Employees want to hear from their immediate or frontline supervisor over a grapevine.

In all, Employees are preferred to communicate directly with the supervisors of their company. Employers are set in their positions to manage the company and push it forward toward the greater good of it. Employees are set there to help in the success of the company and play out the plan that was set by the employers. An employee/employer relationship needs to build on trust and communication. Productivity of employees are likely to increase rather than decrease when a effective relationship is constructed.