1. Type out the five headings of Maslow’s Hierarchy and read through the following actions that an employer might take. Place each under the heading that you think that it will satisfy:
Pick out the five which you think are the most important, putting them
in order. Which is the most common need that is being satisfied by your choice?
2. John, the Personnel Manager, receives the following memorandum from Ken, the Managing Director:
John, I am worried. Morale among the workers seems to be very low at the moment. This is showing itself in a number of ways, some small and some not so small. For instance, I was walking through the works the other day and a number of the workers were not actually doing anything; those that were did not appear to be exerting themselves and they know, as well as I do, that we only have a couple of weeks to finish the project to meet the deadline. If we do they know that there will be a hefty bonus for them. More than that I am used to exchanging greetings with them when I walk through, but not one of them looked up. I have got the Shop Steward on my back for the smallest things – only the other day she threatened to call the whole works out simply because of a leaking ceiling in one of the machine rooms. Hardly worth a strike now is it? They are also calling for a new canteen for everybody. They have got one for themselves at the moment so I can not see their point. Can you? She also said something about management never talking to workers. Well what is there to talk about for goodness sake? They get good wages – what more do they want?
I would welcome any thoughts that you have on the matter because I am worried that we won’t reach the deadline for the contract if motivation and effort do not improve. You have just been on this ‘staff relations training course’. What have you learnt?