Direct Employee Participation

This article defines direct participation and considers the context in which participation has changed over time. It is concerned with clarifying what is meant by different participation schemes. The article also evaluates the extent to which various practices allow workers to have a say in organizational decisions. Next, it considers the issue of management choice over employee voice and participation. The article then reviews a framework against which to evaluate employee participation, and this is followed by an explanation of the types of schemes used in practice. Furthermore, it considers the impacts on organizational performance and employee well-being that are often claimed to arise from employee participation. The article concludes by reviewing some of the current influences and policy choices in the area of direct employee participation.