What is Workplace Partnership?
Workplace partnership is a modern approach to managing employment and industrial relations.
It’s about building an employment relationship based on mutual gain, with the underlying idea that there is something in it for all parties. Partnership doesn't rule out conflict, but it does help parties work through any disagreement in ways that will preserve the ongoing relationship.
Partnership requires a respect for people and a willingness to do things differently.
Adopting a partnership approach means breaking down the old ‘them and us’ attitude and building a relationship based on co-operation not conflict, even though differences remain. The emphasis is on mutual respect and a shared commitment to each other’s success. The result is greater trust between the parties.
Partnership focuses everyone on what’s best for the organisation as a whole and what’s required for long-term success.
To get there, an organisation needs to have effective information and consultation processes, and recognise that everyone – employers, staff and the union – has an equal part to play in building positive and productive workplace relationships
Why partnership? What are the benefits?
Organisations that have successfully moved to a partnership approach have seen the benefits:
- Improved employee relations
- A more positive and satisfying workplace culture
- Greater job satisfaction and more opportunities for personal and career development
- Motivated staff who are able to participate in the decisions that affect them
- Reduced workplace conflict and tension
- Increased confidence, trust and openness in people
- The ability to constructively work through change and conflict
- Greater job security and the potential for wages to rise with productivity
- Easier staff recruitment and increased staff retention rates
- Shared ownership of business outcomes and results
- Increased profits, productivity, innovation and efficiency
- Improvements in work processes and service delivery
- Better business performance and long-term viability.
Partnership works.
Internationally, we’ve seen partnership give staff greater job security, more satisfying work and a greater influence over work organisation. For employers, it leads to better decision-making, a more committed and flexible workforce, and often less time spent on grievances and disputes.
The economy, as a whole, benefits from constructive relationships between employers and unions. Partnership fosters workplace innovation, growth, and productivity. Many State sector agencies and employees in New Zealand have already realised the benefits of partnership, through the Partnership for Quality agreement between the PSA and Government.
Would you like to know more about partnership?
Take a look at Getting Past Go, a collection of six information sheets designed to help organisations explore the idea of workplace partnership.
It’s a basic introduction to what’s involved in working together in partnership, and the benefits and challenges for organisations and unions adopting this approach. The information sheets are designed to help you get started on the path to building a more productive workplace relationship.
There are six information sheets:
- Partnership
- Workplace Relationships
- Leadership
- Communication
- Morale and Motivation
- Capability and Capacity
