There is no doubt that employers face an array of legal requirements that increase their risk of expensive litigation. Couple that with increasing operating costs resulting in significant pressure on the bottom line and it’s easy to see why employers MUST have crews that are productive and accountable. The catch phrase often chimed by Managers is “we need an engaged workforce in order to compete”.

Then how can you have an engaged workplace when site rules, safety rules and regulations are either optional or only apply to a few employees?

Both of these groups want to see the business be successful. But nothing else creates greater apathy than when employees believe that workplace rules only apply to a select few. Apathy is indifference, the opposite of engagement! And at the same time Managers are frustrated when site tours identify repeated non-compliance or labour relations is suffering because of lack of consistency. What happens if someone gets hurt and the Supervisor was condoning the behaviour? This madness needs to stop!

The Supervisor is the Agent of the Employer who works directly with his/her team to achieve their goals that roll directly into the organizations. 

Time and time again we hear employees say “I wish the rules applied to everyone around here”, and at the same time Managers are pulling their hair out because of lack of consistency in their operations.

Barclay Hoskins
HR Consultant & Trainer – CANSCOTT