Supervisor Training for Improved Employee Relations

The success of most every company is largely determined by the performance, productivity and initiative of their employees. For this to happen, much depends on the employee’s day-to-day relationship with their immediate supervisor.

In fact, research shows that these daily interactions have a significant impact on retention rates, teamwork, quality and other key performance measures. It also shows that even a few supervisors with poor interpersonal skills can be the key cause for instigating union organizing campaigns, grievances, litigations and other costly disruptions.

As critical as the supervisor’s role is, it is interesting to note that over the past 30 years, we have found that most companies spend very little, if any time training and educating their supervisors as to how their daily behaviors can have a significant impact on their employees and group performance.

The Hutchison group provides customized employee relations training for supervisors that are both practical and effective. As every company has different goals and objectives, we start the process by meeting with senior management to ensure our training efforts address specific areas of concern. Here are a few typical areas of emphasis:

• Improve Communication, Teamwork and Performance
• Help Supervisors Understand how their Interactions Impact Employees
• Make Clear Company Expectations for the Supervisory Role
• Provide “Do’s And Don’ts” for Maintaining Good Morale
• How to Reduce the Risk of Union Organizing and Other Litigations
• Provide Individual Coaching and Counseling as May Be Required

Again, given our 30 plus years working with companies to improve Labor Relations we have found no more important endeavor then to prepare and equip first-line supervisors with the necessary skills and insights to create and maintain a cohesive and productive unit of employees.

Lorillard Corporation