Each crew at Zanzibar features a worker-elected
ombudsman whose role is to communicate the concerns of the planters to the
company management in a responsible manner. (see
Ombuds history and other info)The role of the ombudsman has two
main elements. The first part is to ensure that specific problems or grievances
workers experience with management (including ownership and management
personnel) are brought to the attention of the company owners in an appropriate
manner so that a suitable resolution can be developed. The second part is to
relay workers’ input concerning company operations to the management for the
purpose of furthering a more comfortable, cooperative, and productive work
environment.
PART
ONE
Any
worker who feels unfairly treated by management personnel, or experiences
problems with company operations, can discuss their concerns with the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman will listen to any concern and ensure that it is relayed
responsibly to ownership without revealing the name of the worker. The primary purpose of this function is to prevent any abuse
of authority by management personnel and ensure a safe, honest, and fair work
environment for all employees. The Ombudsman will relay any concerns to
ownership without bias, and return any response to the worker. The Ombudsman
does not act as an avenue of complaint against other planters, and does not
possess decision-making power. The Ombudsman’s role is not to solve problems,
but to ensure workers’ claims are heard by ownership without censorship or
fear of reprise against the worker or the Ombudsman. Ownership will attempt to
develop a solution for any serious problem that is brought to their attention,
and inform the Ombudsman of how the problem has been addressed.
PART
TWO
Workers
who wish to offer their input on company operations in a constructive and
meaningful way can also discuss their ideas with the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman will make a record of workers’ input and accurately
summarize the received information in a report that will be given to ownership
at the conclusion of each season. Feedback on worker input will be properly
considered and ownership will issue a response to areas of general concern.
OMBUDSMAN duties/detail (see the full ombuds detail explanations)
1)
An Ombudsman will be elected by each crew at the beginning of the season
2)
Ombudsmen will communicate worker problems with specific issues to
ownership in a timely and responsible manner
3)
Ombudsmen will cooperate with workers to find an appropriate way of
expressing their grievances
4)
Ombudsmen will not reveal the name of any grieving party. Furthermore,
workers can submit letters to the Ombudsmen via the Internet. Ombudsmen will
check their mailbox on a regular basis.
5)
The Ombudsman does not act as a channel for workers to complain about
other workers
6)
Neither workers nor Ombudsman will be subject to reprise for the lodging
of complaints with ownership.
7)
Ombudsmen will record worker input on general company operations, and
summarize input in a seasonal report that is forwarded to company ownership.
8)
The Ombudsman cannot be used by management to investigate complaints, and
the Ombudsman is not subject to reproach of any kind for relaying problems to
ownership.
9)
The Ombudsman will maintain a neutral position on any conflicts brought
to his or her attention and relay concerns in an unbiased manner, without undue
editing.
10)
The Ombudsman will relay any response from ownership to workers
concerning their grievances
11)
Ownership will issue a
response to areas of general concern that appear in Ombudsmen’s end-of-season
reports.
12)
Ombudsmen do not bear the responsibility to develop a solution for
problems, but may make recommendations to ownership about how issues may be
approached.
*
These details are addressed more
specifically in an expanded set of guidelines that correspond with the numbers
above.
* Explanation
of terms
also see Ombuds history and other info