Is this just for big organisations?
Workforce cohesion does not just apply to big businesses or organistions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have a significant role to play. They not only operate on the front line of many communities, but employ 13.5 million people (59.2% of the total private sector workforce).[7]
Whilst it is important to recognise that for many SMEs, simply being able to operate efficiently and effectively to deliver their goods or service is of primary concern, it is equally important to note that if there are tensions within local communities, this will affect SMEs just as significantly. SMEs are more dependent on local business networks and can be put out of business completed by disturbances and tensions in those communities.
Five key reasons why cohesion is important for SMEs
Cohesion in the community is crucial for SMEs if they are to continue to operate and “do” business.
There are specific concerns for the SME sector that differ from bigger businesses. For example:
- Operating on the front line in communities, and therefore feeling first-hand the implications of tensions between different groups of people.
- Recruiting locally – yet wanting to ensure that there is a pool of wide local talent.
- SMEs may reflect – and reinforce – the divisions within the local community if they are unable to recruit on a cross-cultural basis.
- Within the workforce – ensuring people get on. SMEs tend to have minimal HR or Personnel capacity and are less able to cope with poor relationships and morale and and have disproportionate cost implications too, in terms of recruiting new staff.
- They are part of the supply chain of larger businesses and public bodies and sooner or later will be bound by the same ethos.
This toolkit aims to provide some guidance to SMEs about how to tackle cohesion within the workforce. However, there is also a strong case for SMEs to work together, perhaps with local Chambers of Commerce and Local Authorities to ensure support is available.