Employee participation within an engineering support services company

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to explore and investigate employee participation within an engineering support services company. Attention was therefore given to the opinions and perceptions of employees and managers regarding employee participation as well as the relationship between employee participation and employees’ union membership. To conduct this study a qualitative and quantitative research design was adopted. In order to examine employees and managers’ opinions and perceptions, semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with participants. Six employee participation themes were identified as well as various sub-themes. Self-developed group administrative questionnaires were also utilised to determine the relationship between employee participation and union membership. The study found that employees and managers attach positive opinions and perceptions towards employee participation therefore leading to positive participation outcomes. In exploring the relationship between employee participation and union membership it was found that 87.1% of the employees in the company did not belong to a union. It was also found that there is a statistical significance relationship between employees’ race and their tendency to join a union (0.068). Employees also indicated that they will join a union if co-management and self-management (as forms of employee participation) is not present in their organisation; with a statistical significance of 0.016 and 0.068. Information presented in this study can be used to develop effective employee participation strategies as well as assist in implementing these strategies.