Award restructuring in the electricity industry: The influence exerted by demographic variables and restructuring on employee commitment and participation

 From the literature, the influence of employee participation programs on employee attitudes is not clearly established. In particular, the influence of demographic variables is yet to be resolved. The prevailing view is that the demographic variables of age, gender, tenure (length of service), job level, and education influence participation and commitment and influence organisational change programs. 

The literature on award restructuring was reviewed with particular emphasis on participation, commitment and the influence of demographic variables. To examine the relationships between these constructs and demographic variables, a cross-sectional research study was conducted at a large public utility in Queensland. Primary data was gathered using an employee workplace survey (N=220), in a non -contrived setting. At the time of the survey, Award Restructuring was still in progress, having commenced early in 1989. 

The Award Restructuring program is an ongoing change program which has affected the entire organisation. The results of this study showed low levels of participation, in the change process, despite the notion of participation and joint consultation being fundamental to the goals of the restructuring process.  

V This study attempted to replicate a relatively large body of earlier work. The literature suggested, a definite positive relationship between participation and commitment (DeCotiis and Summers, 1987). This study established a relationship between autonomy and commitment. Through the investigation of Award Restructuring, it was demonstrated that levels of participation effected employees' attitudes towards commitment, beliefs about rewards and how the Award Restructuring process may benefit the employee personally. 

The results provided some support for DeCotiis and Summer's (1987) notion that there are differences between the types of demographic variables (ie., variables acquired as a function of membership and those personnel variables brought to the organisation by the individual). 

This research demonstrated that there were differences in levels of participation within demographic categories and were most marked between blue and white collar type occupations. The implications for Human Resource Management following the introduction of Award Restructuring, suggested by this study, were examined.