HR & Labor Relations Consultants

supervisor training for improved employee relations, productivity and performance

Labor Relations Training for Supervisors

Supervisor training is one of the most important actions that a company can take to improve and maintain positive employee and labor relations. Research shows that employees daily interactions with their immediate supervisor determines how they view the company, and has a significant impact on productivity, teamwork, employee retention, and other key performance measures.

Studies also report that even a few supervisors with poor interpersonal skills can be the cause for costly grievances, litigations, and other personnel problems. For example, at non-union locations poorly trained supervisors are often the catalyst for union organizing activity. Similarly, for those operations with union represented employees, a few problem supervisors can make it far more difficult to secure and ratify new competitive collective bargaining agreements.

“More than any other factor, employees daily interactions with their immediate supervisor determine how they view the company. Providing supervisors with the skills to create and maintain a productive workforce is essential for success”

Our labor relations training program for supervisors can be completed in just 3-4 hours, and provides participants with valuable insights and practical tools to improve and maintain positive employee relations. Based on our many years of experience, once supervisors understand how their daily interactions impact employees, they are very receptive to learning new techniques and strategies for self-improvement.

Benefits of Labor Relations Training for Supervisors and HR Professionals

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

  • Help supervisors understand how their daily interactions impact employees
  • Clarify company expectations for the supervisory role
  • Improve communication, teamwork, and performance
  • Avoid time consuming grievances, NLRB unfair labor practice charges, and other litigations
  • Reduce costly employee turnover
  • Provide “dos and don’ts” for maintaining good morale
  • Reduce the risk of disruptive union organizing campaigns
  • If represented by a union, help set the stage for productive union contract negotiations
business people working in open office

Reduce Costly Employee Turnover

Research shows that an employee’s immediate supervisor has a direct impact on the company’s ability to attract and retain talented employees. In fact, supervisors with poor interpersonal skills are cited as the number one reason employees change jobs. While compensation is important, employees want to be recognized and appreciated by their immediate supervisor. If not, they are likely to explore job opportunities with other companies.

In addition, it has been reported that even a few supervisors with poor interpersonal and communication skills are frequently the catalyst for union organizing campaigns, employees failing to ratify new collective union contract bargaining agreements and other costly disruptions.

Union Workforce: Improve Union Relations

Supervising employees that are represented by unions requires special skills, which our labor relations consultants address during our labor relations training sessions. Learning to improve union-management cooperation and work with union represented employees in a spirit of partnership can help to minimize costly conflicts and improve productivity. Also, cultivating good working relationships well in advance of the next union contract negotiation will help facilitate constructive conversations that can benefit all parties.

why people change jobs infographic

Nonunion Workforce: Reduce Risk of Union Organizing

For those organizations that have a non-union workforce, special emphasis will be placed on helping supervisors maintain a union free operation. Having worked with both union and nonunion companies over the past 30 years, labor relations consultants can help supervisors identify key warning signs and recommend proactive steps to reduce your risk of a union organizing campaign.

Our Labor Relations Training Program

To help minimize time away from work, our labor relations supervisor training programs are typically conducted onsite at the client’s location. The course combines both lecture and interactive exercises and is completed in approximately three hours. As mentioned earlier, prior to the labor relations training session with supervisory personnel, we meet with senior management to review our labor relations training program and to discuss any particular areas of concern that they would like for us to address.

We recommend that each labor relations training session be “kicked-off” by a member of the senior management team explaining the purpose of the meeting and recognize the important daily contributions that supervisors make toward the company’s success.

Supervisors Consistently Give Our Training Programs High Marks

While many supervisors are often hesitant to attend labor relations training, the response to our labor relations training for supervisors program has been truly outstanding. The key reasons cited by participants for our programs high approval ratings include: (1) our labor relations training course instructors are former supervisors with experience managing employees in both union and nonunion work environments, and (2) the content focuses on real-life issues and offers practical advice and suggestions for improving labor relations.

Contact Our Supervisor Training Company for a Free Consultation

Given our 35 plus years of experience working with companies to improve labor relations, our supervisor training company has found no more important endeavor than to prepare and equip first-line supervisors with the necessary skills and insights to create and maintain a cohesive and productive unit of employees. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about how we can improve the effectiveness of your supervisory team through our exemplary labor relations training for supervisors.

“The communications and interpersonal skills training that your team developed for our front line supervisors and union shop stewards has proven to be very beneficial, improving communications and teamwork.”

Lorillard Corporation

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