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Most company presidents pay lip service to employee participation, but few go as far as Frederick
Shaltz Jr., president of Delta Land Surveying & Engineering Inc., in Flint, Mich. At least once a year, he asks his 23 employees to vote
on such issues as bonuses, tardiness penalties, choice of insurance, and dress codes. Last August, moonlighting was ruled out by a vote of 18 to
5. Around the December holidays, the employees were expected to ban smoking-even though Shaltz is a smoker. After each vote, the decision or rule is entered in the employee handbook, known as the Blue Book.
The Blue Book, says Shaltz, provides a framework for constructive decision making, fosters teamwork, and eliminates
divisive complaining. As soon as an issue presents itself, a vote is taken. Shaltz credits the book with keeping the firm efficient:
"Thanks to the Blue Book, these 23 people are doing the work that would normally take 27 or 30 people. I'm intent on having them involved in the
business as much as possible." |
