Challenges to Meet Dramatic shifts have been occurring in and around the American workplace, and change has become the order of the day. The focus of our economy has moved from national to global. Market demands for products and services have moved at dizzying speed. The nature of work itself has changed, with jobs involving greater complexity and use of high technology. The workplace typical of past eras, where employers and employees relate as adversaries, is utterly unable to cope with requirements of today.
Many employees feel disconnected and disaffected.
Waves of downsizing have often caused those remaining in their jobs to live in fear of the next round while bearing greater demands as a diminished workforce. Workers' compensation claims and workplace violence are on the rise. Employers may end up unable to deliver products or services of sufficient quality and quantity, become less competitive, and even go out of business. Our experience shows this to be especially true in the agricultural industry, where change has become commonplace. Such developments call for new approaches to workplace relations.