Quality standard
Quality statement 4: Employee involvement in decision making
Quality statement 4: Employee involvement in decision making
Quality statement
Employees have the opportunity to contribute to decision making through staff engagement forums.
Rationale
Empowering employees to be involved in organisational decisions and practices that have a direct impact on them shows that the organisation they work for values their opinions. It can also lead to improved working practices and, in turn, improved job satisfaction, resulting in a more content and healthy workforce as well as higher levels of commitment and productivity.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
a) Evidence of arrangements for staff engagement forums that enable employees to contribute to decision-making.
Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally, for example, dates of staff engagement forums, communications with staff encouraging attendance, staff engagement forum agendas and minutes (including contributions made by staff).
b) Evidence of arrangements for feedback to employees on actions taken as a result of their contribution.
Data source: No routinely collected national data for this measure has been identified. Data can be collected from information recorded locally, for example, staff engagement forum and team meeting minutes, organisational newsletters, posters or emails.
Outcome
a) Employee satisfaction rates.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally, for example, staff survey results such as the NHS staff survey. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's annual UK working lives survey collects data on various aspects of job quality.
b) Employee engagement.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally, for example, numbers attending staff engagement forums and staff survey results such as the NHS staff survey.
c) Employee retention rates.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally, for example, HR management systems. The Office of National Statistics Labour Force Survey contains the question 'When did you start in your current employment?'
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Organisations (senior management teams including the chief executive and departmental managers) ensure that employees are encouraged to voice their opinions and actively seek them through staff engagement forums. Staff engagement forums are included in organisational plans and published reports, such as the annual report. Organisations give regular feedback on ways that employee opinions have been considered, for example, at staff meetings or through newsletters, posters or emails.
Line managers ensure that they give employees the support and encouragement they need to contribute to decision making, for example, by giving them time and support to attend staff engagement forums.
Employees have the opportunity to voice their opinions, and their organisation takes these into account when making business decisions that affect them. Employees receive regular feedback on how their opinions have influenced the organisation's decisions.
Source guidance
Workplace health: management practices. NICE guideline NG13 (2015, updated 2016), recommendation 1.5.2
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Staff engagement forums
Staff engagement forums are used to get employee views on organisational decisions and on how working practices can be improved. This can improve business productivity because employees often have the most experience and information about the effectiveness of company policies and systems. In addition, it can improve employee satisfaction because if their ideas are taken on board it is clear their opinion is valued.
Some organisations may feel other methods are more effective such as: small team meetings, working groups, the appointment of wellbeing champions, use of digital media, suggestion schemes or attitude surveys. [Expert opinion]
Equality and diversity considerations
Some employees may find it difficult to contribute to staff engagement forums because, for example, they have a physical disability or find it difficult to read or write. Others may worry that they will be discriminated against if they give their opinion. Organisations must ensure all employees are given the support they need to contribute. They must also ensure that no discrimination occurs and that employees are supported to share their comments, in confidence, if necessary.