Quality of Work Life

Defined: A process of joint decision making,

collaboration and building
mutual respect between management
and employees

Scope of QWL

Fair and reasonable pay

Favourable and safer environment
Benefits for employees
Job security
Job satisfaction
Provision of autonomy as well as control for developing
human resources
Scope for better career opportunities

Approaches to improve QWL

Flexibility in work schedules

Freedom in forming workgroups
Opportunity for growth
Participation of employees
Implementing suggestion systems

Requirements of QWL

Openness
Opportunity to participate in decision making process
Training to be given
Face to face talks between mgt and workers should
be encouraged
Feedback of performance
Promotion should be given for good performance

QC in India
The Ramchandrapuram unit of BHEL at
Hyderabad is perhaps the first to have
pioneered the quality circle movement in
India.
The company today has nearly 1700
quality circles involving about 17,000
workers who have tackled over 6000
problems
Some others are J.K. Jute, Bharat
Electronics & HMT

Quality Circles

1.
2.
3.
4.

A quality circle is a group of employees that meet regularly to

solve problems affecting its work area. It is a small group doing
similar work, meeting to identify, analyze and quality problems.
Characteristics of Quality Circle
Circles meet frequently and at scheduled times
Membership is voluntary
Problems are not just identified, but are also investigated and
solved
Generally 6 8 members.

Objectives of QC
Contributes to the improvement & development of
the org.
QC provides opportunity & forum to realise and
satisfy peoples needs at workplace.
QCs help to build a happy worthwhile place to
work.
It promotes better understanding and thereby
creates cordial IR.

Advantages

Generation of QC
Improvement in productivity
Better teamwork
Higher motivation
Development of problem solving skills.

Limitations

Fitting of QC in existing culture

Rewarding and motivating QC members.
Operational problems
Non members may pose problems
Delay in implementation of suggestions of
QC

Quality of work life IBM

Wages & benefits

Working Hours
Nondiscrimination & harassment
Respect & dignity
Freedom of association
Health & safety
Communications
Support for employees & community
involvement

Quality of Work Life

TATA Group

Gifts & donations

Health, safety & environment
Ethical conduct
Concurrent employment
Citizenship
Integrity of data furnished
Reporting concerns

Quality of Work Life

ING Mutual Funds

CSR-Pratham-orphanage
Regular Offsite
Lunch with CEO
Interdepartmental Lunches
Ideation Box (Suggestions)
Product Champions (SWOT of product)
Skip level meetings
QC-Implementing
Health Safety and Environment

Quality of Work Life

Principal India AMC

Family Day- Wednesdays

5 Days working week
Annual Rejuvenation with families
Monthly Birthday Celebrations
In House Gym
Paternity Leave, Wedding Leave,
Bereavement Leave
Yoga
Gymnasium Reimbursements
Health Safety and Environment

New Methods QWL

Prayer and Meditation in the Workplace
The American Stock Exchange has a Torah Study
Group
Boeing has Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayer
groups
Apple Computers office has a meditation room and
employees are given 30 minutes to meditate or pray.
Prentice-Hall Publishing has a quiet room for
employees where they can take mental retreats

New Methods QWL

Worldwide
Marriott Internationals 10,000 workers dedicate
a day of service to their local communities each year
IBM funds childcare centers at 60 of its locations
Intel offers 22 weeks of maternity leave
SAS has low absenteeism and only 3% turnover due
to no-lay-off policy, 35-hour workweeks, flexitime
and on site amenities like Gym, medical clinic and
message therapists.
Volvo Changed its assembly line system which led
to greater job satisfaction-low absenteeism and
turnover

Checklist of quality-work goals

Decent living standard & economic security

Mutual trust among employers & workers
Participation in decision making
Healthy & safe work environment
Work-life balance
Encourages initiative & creativity
Building commitment to high quality work
environment
Negotiate clear roles & responsibilities for
mgt, govt, unions, professional associations

 Benchmark job quality, analyzing impact on

employees & results
Diagnose areas of strength & weakness,
develop strategies to address latter, track
progress
Evaluate impact of organizational change on
employees & results
Build quality work environment goals into
business plans, showing links to results
Provide incentives for managers to
contribute to specific job quality goals

Strategies for Improvement of QWL

Self managed work teams

Job redesign and enrichment
Effective leadership and supervisory behavior
Career development
Alternative work schedules
Job security
Administrative or organizational justice
Participative management

Techniques to improve QWL

Job redesign: narrow jobs need to be combined into
larger units of accomplishment. Jobs should be
redesigned to enrich them.
Career Development: Opportunity for career
advancement and growth personality improve
commitment.
Autonomous Work Groups: In an autonomous work
group, employees are given the freedom of decision
making.
Flexible work schedules: Flexible working hours, reduced
work weak, job sharing, part-time employment and other
types of alternative work schedules provide freedom to
employees in scheduling their work

 Participative management: Employees want to

participate in deciding matters which affect their
lives. Therefore, quality circles, management by
objectives, suggestion system and other forms of
employees participation in management help to
improve QWL
Job security: Adequate security of job is a high
priority of employees and should be provided
Administrative justice: The principles of justice,
fair and equity should be applied in disciplinary
procedure, grievance procedures, promotions,
transfers, work assignment, leave, etc.

Thank You