Human Resource Management 14th Edition by Robert Mathis,Sean Valentine,John Jackson

Exercise 2

There has been some discussion among the employees in your company's manufacturing plant about forming a union. Company management recognizes the discussions may be because of the absence of a formal grievance procedure to assist employees with reporting their concerns and grievances to management. HR has been asked to develop a formal grievance procedure in an effort to develop better labor relations between the employer and the employees and as an avoidance measure to the formation of a union. To assist HR in developing a formal grievance procedure, visit several websites including the ADR/Conflict Resolution link at http://community.linchr.com/employmentguide.
A. Employees in the shipping department have requested the implementation of a "suggestion box" system to help them bring their concerns to the attention of management and to help improve labor relations. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of such a system.
B. If company management determines that the "suggestion box" request will be more cumbersome than helpful, what are some alternative solutions that management can suggest to the employees?