Page 285 - An Indispensible Resource for Being a Credible Activist

CHAPTER 17

WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENTS

Workplace improvements are no- or low-cost ways that HR working collaboratively with
other employees at every level can come up with both general best practices and unique
ideas that fit their workplace in order to contribute to joy in the workplace and help lessen
sadness, frustration, anger, disgust, or fear in the workplace. Use your imagination and
encourage all employees to do so as well.

RECOMMEND A SUGGESTION BOX

Recommending a suggestion box is a way to show that the company values employee sug-
gestions and feedback. By allowing employees to make suggestions and give feedback
anonymously at any time, you are also respecting that until there is a certain culture in place
for a good six months, it will be hard for employees to trust that their feedback is truly
welcome and will not create any form of reprisal. Even with a welcoming culture in place,
some employees will still want and need the comfort of anonymity, so it’s good to allow
that option.
As some of the suggestions made by employees are responded to with actions and
changes, employees will begin to experience the workplace in a much more positive way,
which will contribute to all aspects of their work improving. See the HR Tool entitled “Sample
Memo for Recommending a Suggestion Box,” at the end of the chapter, page 275.

RECOMMEND AND IMPLEMENT AN UNPAID
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

You can do this yourself or have your assistant help you with the first steps. First, make a
list of all the community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, technical schools, and
graduate schools within a 60-mile radius of your workplace. (You can have your assistant,
a skilled intern, or volunteer do this or do it on your own.) Then use the HR Tool entitled
“Checklist: School Information Gathering for Unpaid Internship Program,” on pages 275–276
to have your assistant gather the following information from the schools.
Once you’ve done this research, you can submit a memo similar to that shown in the
HR Tool entitled “Sample Memo Recommending Unpaid Internship Program,” on pages
276–277 to your leadership and suggest implementing an unpaid internship program for
your company.
Implementing this unpaid internship program will save your company money, increase
productivity, build positive rapport with your colleagues, cultivate powerful community

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