Telstra Effective Workplace Relation Online Tutoring

Part A – Collect, analyze and communicate information and ideas

1.   A brief background to the organisation (examples: history, location, mission statement, vision, values and standards, organizational structure, organizational culture, marketing)

 
 

Telstra Corporation Limited is Australia’s leading telecommunication and information service company in Australia. It offers complete range of communication services in the market. Telstra provides 16 million mobile services, 7.5 million fixed voice services and 3 million retail fixed broadband services in Australia. It builds and operates telecommunications networks (About Telstra, 2014). In addition Telstra further markets voice, mobile, internet access, pay television and other entertainment products and services. Telstra focuses on building technology and content solutions that are easy to use for customers. Telstra further has international presence in 15 countries.

It has a long history in Australia and was started with Australian Post as a government department however now the company is privatized. Telstra over the years have become more customer focus. Initially Australian Telecommunications Commission offered domestic telecommunication services, which was later in 1989, reconstituted at “Australian Telecommunications Corporation”. The name of the company i.e. “Telstra” is itself derived from two words “Telecommunication” and “Australia”. This brand name was set in 1995 and since then Telstra is trading. It was a sole provider till 1990 after which “Optus” (second largest communication company of Australia) and several other small providers entered the market and gave competition to Telstra (About Telstra, 2014).

Telstra focuses on “creating a brilliant future for everyone”, hence the purpose of the organisation is to create technology that can help in bringing people close to each other. According to the organization’s mission creating a “brilliant connected future is its aspiration”. Telstra believes that creating brilliant future is its responsibility for everyone. The company has five core values including, “show we care”, “work better together”, “trust each other to deliver”, “make the complex simple” and “find our courage”. These above mentioned values of the company guide every action of the employees in the organisation. Further in order to fulfill these values Telstra shows that the company is willing to take on responsibility, it is determined to take action and has desire to learn, grow and expand (About Telstra, 2014). The company promotes and also provides guidance on ethical and responsible decision making. In order to ensure that these values are inculcated in employees regular employee trainings are conducted at Telstra. The company has a policy of “whistleblowing” policy under which employees are motivated and encouraged to report if some unethical behavior is done. The company has a strategy under which Telstra is focused on improving customer advocacy and on building new markets.

Telstra has 3 subsidiaries and 67 executives, CEO of the company is David Thodey and Chairman of the board is Catherine Livingstone. In the organizational structure under CEO different people are present including CFO, Chief  customer officer, Chief Information Officer, Human Resource, Corporate Affairs, Business Support, Innovation Products, Media and Marketing.

The culture of the company is influenced by its values which are service, respect, teamwork, trust, integrity and accountability. Its culture has three basic features, the company has a customer driven, winning and innovative culture. In other words the culture supports customer service, true collaboration among employees and innovative technology. Each employee is considered as a member in the company and they together work to achieve their strategy (Our Cultural Priorities, 2013).
2.     Recommendations for the introduction of a work–life balance program, including evidence from appropriate sources (Internet, studies, government bodies, social media, internal/external docs) that:

·               Describes the benefits the organisation can expect to realize as a result of the implementation of this program (examples:  reduced stress, greater wellbeing and alertness, less accidents, greater productivity )

·               Supports your strategy recommendations, which can be summarized in your report or provided as an attachment to your report (examples: flexible work arrangements, time off in lieu, part-time work, working from home, job-sharing, employee assistance programs, child care services)
 

Work life balance is important and if implemented properly, it can increase employee productivity. According to Sirgy & Wu (2013) authentic happiness is result of three experiences in life including “the pleasant life”, “the engaged life” and “the meaningful life”. It is argued that balance in life improves employee productivity, hence work life balance programs must be initiated in organizations. According to Sirgy & Wu (2013) people should be involved and only then employees will be developed in proper way and then the will do their best in work.  Work life balance programs has several benefits for employer, by implanting these initiatives employer will be able to attract and retain top talent. These programs will improve employee performance as stress is reduced by these programs. In this way employees will be more creative and healthy. Overall by implementing these plans future of the organisation is built.  According to Garg & Rani (2013) work life plans offer win-win situation for both employees and employers. They further argued that these initiatives offer benefit not only to employees but also to organisation and society. The general benefits include that employees do not burn out, their morale is boosted and as a result their performance improves.  All these benefits clearly suggest that work-life balance plan should be implemented at Telstra Corporation Limited.
3.     An analysis of the potential impact on employees of the proposal
Work life balance plans have a positive impact on the employees, by implementing such plans employees can be motivated to work hard. These plans depict that organisation considers employees important and hence employers do their best in return. These plans clearly depict that employer is concerned about needs of employees. Further these plans ensure that employee is able to balance the life, after which employee gives best in the best possible way. In case of Telstra work life balance plan will ensure that employees manage their work and life in an appropriate way, in this way morale of employees will be improved. According to Garg & Rani (2013) work-life balance plans have a positive impact on the employees and on the organisation.
4.     A description of the consultation that you have had with employees regarding the proposal (remember communication  is a  two-way for examples:  team meetings, focus groups, OHS meetings, surveys)

·           List the range of methods and techniques you will use to  promote an understanding of the proposal and participation in the consultation process by the employees

·           Name the contribution of at least one (1) external party to the consultation process
It is important to communicate with employees and their feedback should also be incorporated in the final plan. Consultation with employees of Telstra depicted that employees are unable to balance their work and life. Working hours of the organisation do not offer flexibility to its employees hence they are unable to balance their work and life. Different techniques can be used to communicate with employees in order to help them understand about the plan. Meetings will be held regularly to help employees understand about the work-life balance plan. In these meetings feedback of employees will be taken, which will further help to develop employee focused plan. In these meetings agenda will be shared in advance and hence employees will be prepared.  The consultation process will further be improved by external participant. An expert from the field will be hired and will communicate with employees as a third party, he will act as a bridge between employees and communication process will be improved.
5.     A description of how implementation of the program will impact on the daily work practices and lifestyle choices of employees, including information on how you will lead the team through this change by promoting discussion, resolving conflict and role model appropriate behaviors
Implementation of work life balance program will have a direct impact on daily routine of employees. Under this plan flexible working hours will be available to employees hence they will have freedom of working in their preferred time. In the same way this program will change the lifestyle of employees, after implementing work-life balance initiative employees will be able to manage their work and life in better way. Team meetings mentioned in previous part will ensure that proper information is given to employees and in this way communication will be ensured. Effective communication will ensure that employees understand the benefits of these initiatives. Bringing change is difficult and some employees might be reluctant in accepting the change hence proper communication will be required. Some conflicts might also arise hence effective communication needs to be ensured. Role model should be showed by leaders of each team that will further help employees in understanding the benefits of work-life balance programs.
6.     How will you communicate your responses to employee’s feedback?
Employee feedback will be taken positively, structured forms will be created and survey will be carried out. In this survey feedback of employees will be taken before implementation of this new program. Further employee feedback will also be taken after implementing the program and then their feedback will be compared. Once employee feedback is taken it will be analyzed. Then some changes will be made in the plan as per employee feedback. The response to feedback will be sent through e-mail which will answer all the concerns of employees. In the same way team meetings will be held which will also highlight how employee feedback was incorporated in the plan and in this way employee performance will be improved.
7.     How will you ensure issues are resolved promptly?
All the issues will be resolved promptly by forming team representatives, these representatives will ensure that no issue arise in team and if any occurs then it is resolved in an effective way. Communication will be key to resolve the issues and further team leaders will manage their teams and all the issues that might arise in their team.
Part B – Develop Trust and Confidence

8.     How you will develop the trust and confidence of employees (examples: integrity, respect, empathy, competence, first impressions), including the range of methods and techniques will you use to develop positive work relationships in the team?
Developing trust and confidence with employees is important hence employees will be given a chance to express their concerns. In this way employees will be able to freely express any issues that might arise in their minds and hence might impact their performance. Open door policy will be encouraged under which employees can go and talk to their supervisor if they have any concern regarding change of policy or any other issue. This open door policy will build integrity and respect. Implementation of work-life balance plan can impact negatively as employees might start taking their job less seriously hence it is important that employees must be informed that work-life balance plan is developed only for employee’s betterment and no compromise on work will be accepted. This point will be made clear in the team meeting and in the email sent to employees. Overall open door policy and clearing work polices will ensure that employee work properly.
9.     What role will you play in order to encourage others to follow the example you have set above (examples:  role modelling, mentoring, coaching, conflict resolution)
Mentoring and coaching will be used to encourage other members of the organisation and to motivate them to follow this plan. Mentoring and coaching will be effective because this is a new plan and a change is being bought hence helping employees is most important which can only be done by coaching and mentoring employees. Mentoring will be effective because in addition to explaining the benefits of new approach it will assist in guiding employees for effective functioning. Similarly coaching will also ensure that employees are able to adopt to new system. Coaching techniques will assist in solving issues of employees, as coach will guide employees and explain what is expected from employees and how can that be achieved. Coach will further give feedback to employees and will also appraise the performance of employees hence in this way effective employee performance will be ensured. The reason for selecting mentoring is that mentors are effective in change programs, they will explain everything from real life examples and that will be effective. In the same way coaching is professional way of guiding employee behavior.