Successful work units encourage independent thinking and creative problem solving, motivate and inspire staff, and reduce and eliminate negative influences and activities that hinder productivity and harmony.
Employee relations in a large workplace is typically directed by a Human Resources department, but even in large organizations and unionized environments, unit managers must understand and be able to apply the basic principles of employee behavior management. These include a positive approach to problem solving, and a strict self-discipline in following the process of documenting and communicating employee achievements or deficiencies in workplace performance. The manager directly supervising the employee is often the most important player in the employee discipline scenario.