The 10 Duties and Responsibilities of Employers

In good times and in bad, during days of abundance and utmost financial strain, employers and employees are bound to stay together, like husbands and wives, in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, till bank debts do them part. There are many employers who are really good and mindful of their peoples’ welfare, but there are few who opt to abandon their workers in their times of greatest need. Thus, we need to remind them, not just about the laws and the government regulations, but also of their own credo and values, their sense of social responsibility and compassion.

First, employers should uphold the laws of land, respect the basic rights of their employees, and deal with their people, whether managerial, supervisory or rank-and-file, with utmost fairness, justice and respect. They cannot just leave their workers behind as they assure their business profitability and survival.

Second, employers must exercise their management prerogatives in the search, assessment and recruitment of new talents in a fair, just and equitable manner without any discrimination based on gender, creed, union and religious affiliations.

Third, Management must be guided by labor laws, regulations and social legislations in the formulation and administration of total rewards or compensation and benefits with utmost fairness and justice for all.

Fourth, all employers should provide a safe, healthy, secured, peaceful and nurturing work environment that cares for the total physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being of all people inside the company.

Fifth, all employers must lay the foundations, set up the structures and processes to nurture a fair, just and stable work harmony, based on organizational justice, founded on managing both discipline and grievances, in an expeditious, just and developmental manner.

Sixth, management should provide a timely, relevant, purposive, coherent and adequate learning and development of individuals and careers building consistently the competence, attitudes, skills and habits of human capital in the organization.

Seventh, employers should nurture a learning organization, where employees are motivated to break barriers, try and experiment on new and more innovative and creative ways of doing things in more efficient and effective manners, provided that these are done with utmost protection to the health, safety and security of people and also prudence in the use of company resources.

Eighth, management must be zealous in upholding the government regulations governing safe spaces, sexual harassment, gender sensitivity, unfair labor practices, and bullying in the workplace, as well as the prohibition of drugs, weapons, and protect women, seniors, LGBTs, PWDs, and all other marginalized sectors.

Ninth, management shall likewise uphold the regulation of the use of social media, as well as the Data Privacy Act, and to educate all sectors in the company on the Anti-Terror Law and other laws on national security as they are balanced with the imperatives to protect individual human rights.

Tenth, employers should uphold a balance between respect for authority and expression of opinions or dissent and to listen without prejudgment of valid opinions, and to regulate employee behavior as they raise issues, grievances and complaints in a fair, honest and polite manner.

Article 19 of the Civil Code reminds one and all employers, in the exercise of their rights, and in the performance of their duties and obligations, must act with justice, give the employees their due, and observe honesty and good faith. As Spiderman aptly put it: With great power comes a great responsibility.