The Challenge

Our client, a large transportation company employing more than 200 drivers, had recently become the target of a union organizing campaign. Since the drivers operated independently and had little personal contact with the company, union agents were finding it easy to take advantage of the decentralized nature of the business and drive a wedge between the workforce and management. It was becoming obvious that the union would be voted in by the employees.

The Process

After conducting an in-depth Needs Analysis with our client, we determined that the immediate task was to open the lines of communication between the Company and its employees, thus creating a shared vision and a sense of common goals. Extensis:

• Designed and produced a monthly print newsletter addressing topics relevant to the drivers, including benefit and safety issues; Mailed the monthly newsletter to the drivers’ home addresses, to ensure that each person received a copy
  
• Implemented quarterly employee meetings, hosted by management at a convenient location. Drivers were invited to stop by at any time that their schedules permitted
  
• In response to requests from employees, instituted a Driver Safety Program and upgraded the fleet’s wireless communications equipment
  
• Implemented quarterly meetings for all managers and supervisors to share best practices and address common problems and experiences
  
• Designed and implemented a Company website, providing a real-time interface between the dispersed workforce and management
  
• Instituted a "Meet Your Company" chat room, where the CEO would answer questions about the business

The Result

The quarterly employee and managers meetings allowed best practices to be shared among the general population on a continuous basis. The upgrade of the fleet’s wireless communications equipment allowed the company to realize savings due to increased efficiency. There was a reduction in overall accident rates and associated expenses, attributed to the Driver Safety Program.