I. J. of Business & Management Research
Research Article | 
Saving Employee Engagement: Emergent Strategies in Response to Externally Mandated Change
Author(s) : Matthew Vanschenkhof1, Matthew Houseworth2, Lorin Walker2, Scott Smith2
Publisher : FOREX Publication
Published : 30 June 2021
e-ISSN : 2347-4696
Page(s) : 214-223
Abstract
This study discusses critical strategic factors associated with concerns over implementation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandate of December 2016. Emergent Human Resources (HR) strategies developed by human resource managers were investigated, as well as how these managers influenced issues directly linked with employee engagement, communication, employee status, and organizational responses. Interviews were facilitated less than four months prior to the mandate’s implementation. Investigators found the FLSA mandate created concerns for human resource managers based on current organizational practices, compensation, and bonus structures, as well as employee morale challenges. Specific findings included a desire for organizational communication concerning changes due to the mandate, but a universal lack of strategic planning or implementation of a process to preserve employee engagement. Further, HR management concerns regarding employee morale and consequent action were investigated, as a change in status from exempt to non-exempt would be perceived as a demotion by most employees. This research finds that the ability to communicate changes with constituents, help manage implementation for HR employees, care for morale and cultural repercussions, and demonstrate fairness in compensation are critical factors to consider for a large-scale change and implementation in HR policy due to sweeping regulatory changes.
Keywords: Employee engagement , Communication, Fair Labor Standards Act, Employee morale, Emergent strategy
Matthew Vanschenkhof, Applied Human Sciences – Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Management, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
Matthew Houseworth, Division of Business Strategy, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA
Lorin Walker, Division of Business Strategy, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA
Scott Smith, Division of Business Strategy, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA ; Email: sdsmith@ucmo.edu
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Matthew Vanschenkhof, Matthew Houseworth, Lorin Walker and Scott Smith (2021), Saving Employee Engagement: Emergent Strategies in Response to Externally Mandated Change. IJBMR 9(2), 214-223. DOI: 10.37391/IJBMR.090214.