Many employers are weary of giving too much importance to employee relations because they feel this will result in creation of trade union atmosphere. Well, a certain level of bonding between employees is not just inevitable but essential as well. A single loyal employee can help many others overcome discontentment about your policies and decisions.
Remember, you are the boss and the employer and will always be in a position of superiority over all your employees. You have the ability to dismiss them and put an end to their current income. In such a scenario, you can never expect your employees to be completely frank and honest with you.
Nobody is going to walk up to you and tell you that you take wrong decisions unless he or she is prepared to take the risk of being fired. It is not advisable to get rid of this mindset completely. You may have better understanding of your business than your employees and you may require obedience and compliance even if your employees do not necessarily agree with your view.
Hence, employee relation maintenance is all about striking the right balance between obedience and freedom of friendly interaction. Get machines if you want somebody to listen to your instructions and obey them even if they are wrong. If you want your employees to contribute, you must be prepared to hear opinions that you do not like.
Freedom of speech is valued only when people are ready to protect it. In the same way, providing an outlet for your employees inside your office is going to help you maintain good employee relations in the long run. If you try to suppress it, you are only going to externalize the entire issue. Chances are high that you will find your company being criticized under a pseudonym by your own employee on the internet.
For each and every argument against excessive importance to employee relations, there are many others that justify the focus. The intensity of beneficial measures depends on circumstances and conditions. However, do not discount the importance of employee relationships under any circumstances.