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Keeping It Quiet? The Micro-Politics of Employee Voice in Company Strategic Decision-Making

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Casey

    (Loughborough University, UK)

  • Helen Delaney

    (University of Auckland, New Zealand)

Abstract

Employee voice in company strategic and governance decision-making in Anglophone countries commonly has few formal channels. This article’s investigation of labour’s (collective employees) interest expression in Australia and New Zealand finds that labour actors engage with company actors to craft a range of channels of expression and participation. In addition to actors’ utilisation of formal institutional provisions for adversarial collective bargaining and cooperative participation, actors utilise other ‘at the table’ arrangements that are typically of low salience. These include non-formal, inter-actor arrangements that facilitate contribution to decisions that can include matters of strategic importance. Labour actors engage with company actors in intricate micro-political relations to contribute influence in framing understandings and horizons of decisions and norm-building. Their quiet activities contribute regulatory effect in company decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Casey & Helen Delaney, 2022. "Keeping It Quiet? The Micro-Politics of Employee Voice in Company Strategic Decision-Making," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(3), pages 485-502, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:36:y:2022:i:3:p:485-502
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170211011340
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Pradeepa Dahanayake & Christopher Selvarajah & Diana Rajendran, 2023. "Capturing the missing voices: A ‘fair go’ for sexual and gender minority employees in Australian workplaces," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 48(4), pages 711-731, November.

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