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Industry study
Occupational health and safety
Workplace culture
This unit of work addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:
H1.1 investigates industry through the study of businesses in one focus area
H7.1 explains the impact of the focus area industry on the social and physical environment
Extract from Stage 6 Industrial Technology Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 2008.
Different organisations of any type, even those producing the same product or service, can be very different places to work. They will have different ‘atmospheres’, different ways of doing things, different attitudes, different values and so on, and each of these can impact on the overall contentment of the people in those workplaces.
We can refer to these aspects of the workplace as ‘workplace culture’. Workplace culture can probably be best described as the attitudes people within the workforce have toward their work, and their workmates.
Many issues can impact positively or negatively on workplace culture. The attitudes and expectations of the senior management of an organisation can have the greatest impact on workplace culture, and workplace culture can be very different when there is a change of management.
Perhaps the greatest area of concern of an organisation’s culture is that which influences the application of Occupational Health and Safety processes. Management needs to be aware of all aspects of the OH&S Regulation and have policies which implement necessary strategies such as safety training, risk management and OHS committees.
In addition, workplaces must embrace new, flexible ways of doing things that allow for the changing nature of the workforce and the need for better work/home/family balances.
- Go to the Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations
Outline the benefits of a supportive workplace culture. - What are the things the author describes as the ‘cultural artefacts’ of an organisation?
- Karen Schmidt at Let’s Grow describes some traditional workplace cultures that exist. List the different cultural ‘models’ she outlines here.
- List the new cultural models Schmidt describes as necessary in today’s organisations.
- Go to the NSW Office of Industrial Relations .
List the three key elements that contribute to a positive family friendly workplace culture.
Additional resources:
Office of Industrial Relations
An example of a Workplace Policy statement that deals with conduct in the workplace.
HR policies and procedures
An example of a Workplace Safety audit report, specifically identifying cultures and practices:
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