Jasz
VIP Contributor
When a policy change happens at work, it is natural for employees to react, protest and argue. However, not every employee will react and protest at every policy change. In fact, some employees will be more comfortable with the changes while others might be affected negatively by the changes. The best way to handle this is to understand how employees react to policy changes in your organization and then manage them accordingly.
Understanding Employee Reactions to Changes
It's important for managers to understand how their employees react to policies at work because it gives them an idea of what kind of people they are managing. It also helps them manage their teams better by allowing them to handle issues that affect the morale of their teams effectively.
For example, if a manager has worked with an employee for almost two years, she knows that he isn't very comfortable with change and doesn't like being told what to do. When this particular manager introduces a new policy in her department, she knows that this particular employee will probably have some objections or concerns about the policy but he won't protest openly because he doesn't want his job threatened by any negative reaction towards him or his colleagues.
On the other hand, the answer to the question depends on your role and how you are perceived. If you're a senior manager or director, then I would say that it is your responsibility to ensure that you are representing the best interests of the organisation and not just yourself. You should also be thinking about how any change could impact on others in your team and helping them understand what is going on. If you're an employee who's been asked to implement a change and you don't agree with it, then I would suggest speaking to your manager first before deciding whether or not to protest.
If you're unhappy about something at work, like a policy or procedure change, then I believe there's nothing wrong with voicing your concerns and asking for more information as long as you do so in a respectful manner. If your manager isn't willing to help then maybe they aren't the right person for the job.
Understanding Employee Reactions to Changes
It's important for managers to understand how their employees react to policies at work because it gives them an idea of what kind of people they are managing. It also helps them manage their teams better by allowing them to handle issues that affect the morale of their teams effectively.
For example, if a manager has worked with an employee for almost two years, she knows that he isn't very comfortable with change and doesn't like being told what to do. When this particular manager introduces a new policy in her department, she knows that this particular employee will probably have some objections or concerns about the policy but he won't protest openly because he doesn't want his job threatened by any negative reaction towards him or his colleagues.
On the other hand, the answer to the question depends on your role and how you are perceived. If you're a senior manager or director, then I would say that it is your responsibility to ensure that you are representing the best interests of the organisation and not just yourself. You should also be thinking about how any change could impact on others in your team and helping them understand what is going on. If you're an employee who's been asked to implement a change and you don't agree with it, then I would suggest speaking to your manager first before deciding whether or not to protest.
If you're unhappy about something at work, like a policy or procedure change, then I believe there's nothing wrong with voicing your concerns and asking for more information as long as you do so in a respectful manner. If your manager isn't willing to help then maybe they aren't the right person for the job.