I've always been pretty vocal about something I call “leverage” in the work place. I talk alot about it with friends, family, co-workers and my own bosses.
I'm vocal about leverage because I want to basically balance of equity between employees and employers. As for right now that balance is still unacknowledged by CEOs, owners, directors, micro managers and people who work within the company for those people.
Their main leverage is:
Financial hardship:
-Potential For
-Threats of reduction of shifts/pay
-Threats of reduction of benefits
-“Pushing” attempt to null unemployment
-Labour Force
Your main leverage is:
-Performance
-Labour Force
-Workplace politics
What I believe leverage should look like:
Employer:
Workplace atmosphere
Financial Benefit
Employee-
Performance
I found that my department yielded better performance and candidates overall by completely changing the atmosphere and the social structure of my departments space.
A minor example of this managed philosophy:
My resturant staff should never be stressed out like they are. Myself included. Why? Who will fire us? Who will hurt us? You have been trained to fear the client so much that you forget that the ones who assault you physically or mentally should be the ones getting chewed out.
Leading to the purging of undesirable clientele who, by me, working along side my co-workers, was able to observe and identify their negative behavior quickly, and rid of them. It actually happens alot less frequent. It's almost like a calm staff warrants a calm service and thus the emotions of our guest mirrored the emotions of us.
When someone who is working for me is overwhelmed they are quickly diverted to a different task that I have found them to be good at. It's important to diversify tasking as I didn't want them to view it as a punishment. If they are overwhelmed, they risk the assurance of the guest having a quality time or their potential for, I should say. This stabilizes the environment quickly. The guest is less likely to invoke negative emotion which then keeps the FOH intact for example.
This creates what I call a more clinical atmosphere. I understand clinical is not the right word, but that's what I always called and envisioned it as. Almost like the calmness of firefighters preparing to meet a danger. Ensuring that they have their wits about them so they can care for the wits of others. The people who work with me should not be worried about nothing and neither should I. It's merely a job. If someone messes up, it's as simple as that. Training should be great enough to ensure safety and supervisors should be aware and knowledable of immediate potential for that.
You walk into my resturant, it is packed, my co workers are conversing with eachother, the service is smooth and everyone is happy. In all my years in the resturant industry I have never witnessed anything like it.
Thus creating a wonderful atmosphere that you would be fortunate enough to work in, surrounded by a leadership team that wears your shoes.
*This is my incentive and leverage and just a small example of my focus in the general atmosphere and treatment of others.
*You then work hard to be in a atmosphere that you want to be in and even recommend your friends and family to join, during or even after your tenure.
note
There is the obvious stipulation, leverage of pay, in which I have minimal control over, but constantly get labour budgets rejected and have even this year been taken off of the budgeting panel for labour specifically. (My co-workers are underpaid)
But the wage is posted clearly and they accept…..
I understand you have your budgets, superiors and so fourth. But even leaders on a lower scale can work towards achieving equality without spending a penny.
To also create a counterpoint to those on the otherside of the spectrum. There are certain levels that are constrained by budgets so a floor manager can influence your raise/promotion but cant guarantee everyone fair wages. Their job should be to make the world around you better when you're working.
It should go without saying that I believe people need to be compensated livable wages and the companies not providing those will suffer hopefully.
I consider my philosophy just a bolt in the machine of work reform. Leadership positions need to hop and board quickly because you're all most likely on a sinking ship. We should support and assist in the cause of creating mutual and beneficial working environments for our co-workers. Fair wages/benefits for those without them and assist in the career tracks of those who are just a mere rocket on our launchpad.
The first step is treating everyone like humans.