Are the workers to blame?

There has been a debate in Trinidad yesterday about whether workers (and especially their poor attendance) is to blame for low productivity. Trades unions say ‘No’.

I agree with the unions.

In my experience, poor productivity within an organisation is almost always a ‘system or culture failure’. Either work is badly organised or the culture of the organisation mitigates against high engagement and high performance by workers.

Managers also, of course, hold the levers for change.  If they cannot improve productivity, they are not managing effectively.