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Open Forum with GM
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Open Forum with GM
Discuss workforce management, performance management, retention, communication, motivation, contributing to business results and other topics.
I work at a company in Los Angeles inwhich the General Manager holds safety meetings once a month. During those meetings he asks I and all the other supervisors to leave the room. He then gets people
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/6/2010 1:00 PM EDT
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Posts: 19
First: 3/9/2007 Last: 10/27/2010 |
I work at a company in Los Angeles inwhich the General Manager holds safety meetings once a month. During those meetings he asks I and all the other supervisors to leave the room. He then gets people to openly tell everyone what they dislike about their supervisor or other supervisors. In my opinion I think this is going to breed animosity within the workplace. Several employees under my supervision felt very awkward in this setting. Does anyone know how this can actually improve the workplace? |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/6/2010 1:32 PM EDT
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Posts: 562
First: 11/12/2009 Last: 9/14/2011 |
I think it's a rather poor way of managing and could certainly demoralizing to the supervisors.
I think implementation of an Open Door policy for employees to approach a manager with concerns is a much better avenue. |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/7/2010 6:01 AM EDT
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Posts: 544
First: 9/27/2004 Last: 9/13/2011 |
Removing supervisors from the equation is supposed to help employees feel more comfortable about disclosing sensitive information, especially when safety and accident prevention is a concern, but this is definitely not the way to facilitate that discussion.
Technically, the general manager shouldn't be in the room either. Employees should discuss concerns among themselves and have a representative bring their thoughts to management as a group for management to review as a group. The discussion should stay focused on practices, events and behaviors, and they should be related to safety goals. What you describe sounds like an invitation for character assassination and a breeding ground for distrust. |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/7/2010 1:38 PM EDT
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Posts: 18
First: 5/20/2009 Last: 4/19/2011 |
I agree with Nork. There are a couple of ways to re-market this that may yield positive results. The first would be to call it a Town Hall and disentangle it from the safety meetings. The second would be to have the GM leave the room while the group posts their concerns on a white board, and then have the GM re-enter and address issues to and from the entire group. That removes some of the concerns around a gripe session or the possibility of retaliation, because the complaints are anonymous yet representative. |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/7/2010 1:54 PM EDT
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Posts: 19
First: 3/9/2007 Last: 10/27/2010 |
First of all, thank you for you're responses. One of my fellow supervisors was placed on verbal warning based on two lower level employees comments not even supervised by that person. The warning was also not given by the GM but by another more senior supervisor. |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/12/2010 5:14 AM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 10/12/2010 Last: 10/12/2010 |
I occasionally hold "skip" meetings with the department staff in my division where it's just between me and them with no manager present. However, I have specific questions I ask to spur the conversation and I don't ask about their manager or supervisor; I focus on the company strategies, why they like working here, what can we do to keep it a positive workplace, etc. I end the session reminding them my door is always open for any private discussion they may want to have with me. |
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Open Forum with GM
posted at 10/12/2010 7:54 AM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: 10/12/2010 Last: 1/25/2011 |
I agree with a town hall-type forum for general suggestions/questions/concerns and/or Open Door policy for person or situation-specific concerns. It concerns me that employees (whether management or subordinate) at your company have the opportunity to voice performance-related feedback (which could be truthful or not) in the presence of other employees. You also run the risk of something coming out at a meeting that could send you scrambling for your employment law attorney. |
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