Goals:

• recognize factors that contribute to an effective organizational culture
• describe the benefits of diversity to an organization, individuals, and society

Key Terms:

• organizational culture
• work environment
• labor union
• diversity
• glass ceiling

Organizational Culture and Workforce Diversity  

• Developing an Effective Culture
  Businesses of today are far different from those of the past century.  Technology has reduced the need for low-skilled employees and demands that current workers have much greater skills. The Internet has changed the way people communicate, share information and shop. Globalization of business has resulted in greater competition.
  Other changes are just as important though not as clear. The workforce is more diverse, with growth among both younger and older workers. Jobs are changing with a larger part-time or temporary  workforce and a rise in entrepreneurship. Job are being shifted to other countries in an effort to cut costs and raise profitability. Manufacturing jobs are decreasing in numbers while technical jobs are increasing.
  An organizational culture is the environment in which people work, made up of the atmosphere, behaviors, beliefs and relationships.  An organizational culture shows people hoe they will be treated and how they are expected to treat others. It identifies what is acceptable behavior and what is not. If a company has a positive organizational culture, employees are going to enjoy going to work. They have positive working relation with coworkers and managers. They believe the company values them and their work. They are motivated to do a good job for the company.
  The Work Environment is the physical conditions and the psychological atmosphere in which employees work. The physical conditions include work areas, offices, break rooms, storage areas and other places where employees spend time while at work. Tools and equipment, lighting, temperature and air quality are all part of the physical work environment.
  In addition to the physical conditions, companies need to provide a positive psychological atmosphere. Employees do not want to work where they feel they are mistreated or where their work and ideas are not valued.
  Not all jobs can be physically comfortable. Some require people to work outside in very hot or cold conditions. Others require a great deal of physical effort and can be quite hazardous. Even in these types of jobs, businesses need to figure out ways to provide as much physical comfort as possible. They should provide protective clothing and equipment and allow needed breaks, and ensure that every employee receives adequate safety training.
  Providing a positive psychological environment means that managers are trained in effective communications and interpersonal skills. That they are honest, fair and ethical in their treatment of each employee.
  Work-Life Relationships – People seem to be working more and longer days. Some people hold two jobs. There are many two-career families. Balancing work and personal life is a very important issue for most employees. A recent survey show that a majority of people would give up an additional income to be able to spend more time with their families.
  A positive organizational culture s one that respects the demands on employees from outside of the job. It offers employees ways to meet those demands while still fulfilling the requirements of the job. This may include personal time, family leave, flex-time, and  job sharing.
  Many companies offer personal time for employees to complete non-job activities that can only be done during work time.  This may include time during the work day for dental and medical appointments, time to visit a child’s school, or renew a driver’s license. Personal time is a few hours each month that an be scheduled for non-job activities. Some companies offer paid employee time to volunteer at schools or other community organizations.
  Family leave policies allow employees to take leave of absence for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for sick family, or for other personal emergencies. In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act. It requires companies employing more than 50 employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for employees who face specific family or personal circumstances.
  Flextime allows employees some choice in how their work days and work hours are arranged. Some employees may chose to come in early and leave early. Others may work longer hours each day and get all of their required work time in on four days taking three day weekends. Job sharing offers one job to two people. Each person works a part-time schedule. They share the work space and duties on the job. Flexspace means that some employees can complete part or all of their work away from the business site. Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular.
  Some strategies for improving work-life relationships cost companies very little. Others do have costs, but they often result in lower absenteeism, lower employee turnover and happier and more productive employees.
  Employer-Employee Relations Both managers and employees want their business to succeed. Unprofitable businesses have to reduce the number of employees. They must limit salary and business increase. If everyone can work together to make the business successful, all should benefit. Managers and employees do not always have the same immediate goals. Managers must make sure the company makes a profit. They try to get more work done at a lower cost. Employees are most concerned about pay, working conditions and job security.
  In the past, the boss made all of the important decisions and told employees what to do. Employees had little input as to what they did or how they did it.
  This approach left employees with the idea that their ideas were not welcomed or appreciated. Employees believed they knew a great deal about their jobs and the business and that they could offer suggestions to improve the way work was done.
  Managers and employees have discovered that when they work together they find ways to accomplish the goals of both the organization and the individuals who work for it. Managers who involve employees in decision-making find that better decisions are made. Employees  are more likely to support these decisions. Both groups benefit through cooperation.
  Labor Unions are organized groups of employees who negotiate with employers about issues, such as wages and working conditions.  Early in the 20^th century, many US companies did not treat their employees well. Low wages and poor working conditions caused employees to band together and form labor unions. Unions can be effective because they represent large numbers of employees. The popularity of unions peaked in the 1940s and 1950s when more than one-third of the US labor force was unionized. The number of unionized workers has been falling since the 1960s and now only about 12% of US workers belong to unions.
  Organizations with strong union membership include police and firefighters, government employees, transportation workers, manufacturing and utilities employees. Unions and management resolve issues through collective bargaining which is formal negotiation between members of both groups. When an agreement is reached, both groups sign a written labor contract. Federal and state laws regulate the relationships of businesses and unions.
• Workforce Diversity Imagine a world in which everyone, looked, thought and acted alike. NORTH KOREA The world is diverse and the United States is one of the most diverse counties in the world.
  Benefits of Diversity
  Diversity – as it applies to businesses and organizations, is the comprehensive inclusion of people with differences in personal characteristics and attributes.
  

  Assignments:

  Go to Online Resources (see link below). Select Chapter 8.

  1 - Click on and complete the Crossword Puzzle, When you are finished, print out your puzzle, write your name on it and turn it in for a grade.

  2 - Click on Net Bookmarks. Employer-employee relations are governed by a number of federal laws administered by the Department of Labor. Those laws relate to wages and salaries, benefits, employment age, health and safety, and many other issues. Access the web site shown. Identify five different employment laws that would apply specifically to you and your classmates if you held a part-time job. Prepare a brief description of each law and what an employee or employer must do to comply with the law.

  3 - Click on Online Quiz Prep. Take the Web Quiz.  When your quiz score is displayed, call the teacher over to see and record your score.

  4 - Click on Study Tools
        Complete Lessons 1 -3
         Lesson 1 - Human Resources Activity
         Lesson 2 - Managing Human Resources
         Lesson 3 - Benefits of Workplace Diversity
       
  When your quiz scores are displayed, call the teacher over to see and record your scores.