Turn It In Threshold To Fully Complete This Case Assignment
Turn It In Thresholdto Fully Complete This Case Assi
Analyze the case of Velma Company, a high-tech communications equipment manufacturer, with a focus on its employee benefits and retention strategies. Your response must be organized into six numbered sections: 1. Situation 2. Problem 3. Question 4. Solution 5. Recommendation 6. Prediction. Use organizational behavior (OB) terminology and concepts throughout.
Paper For Above instruction
1. Situation
Velma Company has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, tripling its sales and expanding its client base globally, including significant customers in China and the European Union. The company's success relies heavily on a skilled workforce, particularly design engineers responsible for developing innovative and competitive products, and manufacturing personnel who produce the equipment. To sustain this growth, Velma offers extensive employee benefits, such as comprehensive health insurance, retirement contributions, stock options, and supplementary perks like daycare facilities and wellness centers.
The benefits package is designed to attract and retain top talent; for example, design employees receive full health coverage, significant stock ownership opportunities, and vesting schedules, while manufacturing staff are paid based on performance, receive stock grants, and benefit from free health and wellness amenities. Despite these attractive incentives, the company faces challenges with employee retention, notably a high turnover rate of 9% last year, with plans for a reduction. Exit interviews reveal that many employees are unaware or confused about the full scope of their benefits, particularly the financial advantages of stock options and retirement contributions. Additionally, employees' lack of awareness about pre-tax contributions to retirement funds indicates potential gaps in communication and engagement.
2. Problem
Velma Company struggles to effectively communicate its employee benefits and leverage these benefits to reduce turnover. Despite offering comprehensive perks, many employees are unaware or unclear about the financial and personal advantages, leading to underutilization of these benefits. This lack of awareness diminishes employee engagement, diminishes perceived organizational support, and hampers long-term retention efforts. The core issue revolves around ineffective internal communication, employee engagement, and motivational strategies concerning the company's HR offerings, which could undermine its goal to stabilize and enhance the workforce amid rapid growth.
3. Question
How can Velma Company improve its communication and implementation of employee benefits to enhance employee engagement, clarify the value of these benefits, and thereby reduce turnover and increase retention?
4. Solution
To address the identified issues, Velma should implement a comprehensive benefits communication plan that emphasizes clarity and engagement. This plan would involve periodic informational sessions, personalized benefits summaries, and targeted training to increase understanding of stock options, retirement contributions, and other perks. Additionally, the company can leverage OB principles such as enhancing perceived organizational support and fostering a culture of transparency and recognition. Incorporating employee feedback mechanisms can also help tailor benefits communication to meet employee needs better. Furthermore, implementing a digital benefits platform could streamline access, reinforce understanding, and promote active participation. By doing so, Velma could foster greater intrinsic motivation and organizational commitment, ultimately reducing turnover.
5. Recommendation
Velma should undertake a strategic overhaul of its benefits communication approach by establishing regular, structured orientations on benefits, utilizing internal champions or ambassadors to promote awareness, and providing managers with training to better support employee understanding. The company should also consider motivational incentives aligned with OB theories like equity and expectancy theory to promote benefit utilization. Enhancing transparency around the financial and personal gains from stock options and retirement plans can motivate employees to make smarter financial choices, increasing their commitment. Recognition programs that highlight benefits utilization success stories can foster a culture of engagement. Moreover, utilizing technology, such as an interactive benefits portal, can reinforce awareness and facilitate self-directed learning about benefits.
6. Prediction
If Velma effectively improves its benefits communication plan and fosters a culture of transparency, employee engagement and perceived organizational support are likely to increase. This increased engagement should lead to improved job satisfaction, higher organizational commitment, and reduced turnover rates. As employees better understand and utilize their benefits, their financial security and work motivation are expected to improve, fostering a more stable and productive workforce. Over time, the enhanced retention of skilled staff will support Velma's continued growth and competitive advantage in the high-tech industry.
References
- Allen, N. J., & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63(1), 1-18.
- Armstrong, M. (2020). Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. Kogan Page.
- Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job resources boost work engagement: The role of personal resources. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 100, 91-104.
- Brown, S. P., & Peterson, R. A. (1993). Antecedents and consequences of salesperson job satisfaction: Meta-analysis and critique. Journal of Marketing Research, 30(1), 63-77.
- Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
- Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Harvard Business School Press.
- Latham, G. P., & Pinder, C. C. (2005). Work motivation theory and research at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Annual Review of Psychology, 56, 485-516.
- Schaufeli, W. B., & Bakker, A. B. (2004). Job resources, burnout, engagement, and turnover intentions among nurses: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(3), 499-507.
- Vroom, V. H. (1964). Work and Motivation. Wiley.
- Yousef, D. A. (2000). A theory of reasoned organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Journal of Management & Organization, 6(2), 125-142.