Creating Healthy Employee and Labor Relations

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We began this course by stating that as a manager, people are your most important resource.

If people are your most important resource, it stands to reason that communication is the most important process.

While no one questions the importance of the chain of command on calls, effective, honest and multidirectional communication in non-emergency environments is critical to creating positive employee and labor relations and a healthy work environment.

If communications were truly honest, clear and effective, there would be few grievances. To achieve this there needs to be a professional commitment on the part of every team member – looking at the organization as a team.

Your textbook author notes that "much of the success of enlightened labor relations revolves around communication and trust" (Edwards, 2005).

And I believe wholeheartedly that continued honest, up front, and respectful communication is the basis for the building of trust. And, we all recognize that building trust takes time.

In an environment of trust and respect within the organization, dissatisfaction and grievances will decrease, and higher morale, motivation, and productivity will emerge.

In an environment of trust and respect between the emergency service organization and the external environment, the emergency service organization can build more effective bridges within the community.

Reading Assignment: Click on the following link to read the article "A Matter of Trust," by Chief Randy R. Bruegman, dated August 1, 2002 at http://firechief.com/mag/firefighting_matter_trust/index.html

References

Edwards, S. Fire Service Personnel Management. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education, 2005.

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