Delta Airlines Employee Motivation and Performance - Research Paper Example

Delta Airlines Employee Motivation and Performance Introduction Employees are a core component of organizations and institutions. The primary work is done by the personnel including senior and junior employees. Delta Airlines puts substantial efforts in ensuring that the employees are motivated and their rights are adhered to. The airline motivates its employees through the extension of travel privileges and other benefits. The incentives improve employee behavior and their longevity with the airline. Travel Privileges Upon the hiring of an employee by Delta Airlines, he or she is provided with a set of drafted guidelines with regard to the travel privileges. However, an employee can only be eligible for such privileges after working for an initial minimum of thirty days. The travel privileges can be used across all the destinations that are covered by Delta Airlines. Through this program, employees in the airline have been able to travel to different global destinations and they reciprocate in appreciation of their employer’s effort make their work experience enjoyable. The reciprocation is seen through improved employee performance and proper relations with the Airline management (Nelson, & Quick, 2013). In addition, the employees’ relatives can also enjoy the travel privileges. Spouses, minors mainly students and parents are entitled to the provision of free travel services. Employees’ children that are nondependent travel companions and friends can also enjoy reduced travel charges. It is notable that the employees’ families are an integral part of their lives and may play a big role in compelling them to keep working at the airline. If the families and friends receive such privileges, they may impact positively on the employees’ attitude towards their role at the airline. Consequently, the employees are compelled to keep working for the airline and develop a positive assertiveness towards the execution of their duties (Grodal, Nelson & Siino, 2015). The employees and their family members eligible for the travel privileges are expected to be on board after other commercial passengers have boarded the flights. Therefore, they occupy the spaces that are still available after all the revenue travellers are on board. Before the travel privileges are activated, the employees are expected to pay an activation fee amounting to fifty dollars. The travel privileges are applicable after the proper guidelines are adhered to and relate to all the employees. Benefits In order to maintain its well-established status in the airline industry, Delta Airlines offers a number of rewarding benefits to the employees. The benefits cover the employees’ welfare in terms of medical needs, financial requirements and general employee lifestyle. Such factors affect the employees directly and the fact that the Airline addresses them is a vital motivating factor (Nelson, & Quick, 2013). Health Benefits Delta Airlines extends a health insurance coverage program to its employees. The program covers both part-time and full-time and part-time employees, and authorized dependents including children and spouses. The insurance provides a medical cover that accounts for employee routine medical checkups, emergency medical services and surgical medical procedures. Employees have the freedom to choose the hospitals and doctors that they prefer. The medical cover is composed of a variety of options that are dependent on the employees’ place of residence. Various employee health needs are covered under the medical cover program. Dental coverage is meant for employees with dental disorders. The employees have the freedom seeking the relevant medical advice and diagnosis from professional dentists. Visual health coverage is courtesy of Davis Vision and caters for the needs of the employees with eye problems. Employee dependents that are eligible for the insurance cover also get the dental, visions ad medical covers. The insurance program also entails an extensive life insurance cover for the employees. 50,000 dollars accounts for the life insurance cover extended by the airline to the employees (Delta Airlines, 2015). The life cover highly motivates the employees because the cover would have been expensive if they were to procure it independent of the company’s help. Other insurance covers offered by the online include group accident and private pilot insurance. Employees that are physically handicapped require special treatment. The airline has ensured that the special rights of such employees are upheld and that they work in an environment that they are comfortable in. Delta Airlines has an employee assistance protocol that caters for the psychological and mental health of the employees. It is common for employees in organization to be stressed out with work and personal issues. The psychological impact that results from mental stress negatively affects the productivity of the employees. Through the provision of psychiatric advice through the relevant mental health programmes, Delta Airlines has been able to assist its employees in dealing with emotional problems. For adequate productivity, sobriety and stable mindset among the airline personnel is imperative. Financial Benefits Delta Airlines is committed to helping its employees in securing their financial future. The airline exposes employees to the 401(K) plan. Under the plan, employees eligible to pay taxes are enrolled into a savings scheme where the funds to be saved are deducted from the employees’ salaries. The savings protocol is coupled with a blueprint that governs the process of sharing profits. When employees are involved in profit sharing, they improve their working formulas to ensure that the airline obtains maximum profit. The airline also compensates the employees in case they incur personal losses in the course of executing their duties (Williams, 2012). Employees are eligible for the profit sharing program immediately they are employed by the airline. The amounts that are paid out to employees vary on an annual basis. For instance, in 2007, Delta Airline allocated 15% of its overall income prior to taxation (Delta Airlines, 2015). Financial rewards are dispensed to the employees with regard to the achievement of the airline’s goals and objectives. Therefore, the employees tend to work harder to ensure that the set goals are achieved. The Delta Community Credit Union is open to all the employees. The members of the union are eligible for the extension of credit services if their financial situations make it necessary to seek financial assistance. Lifestyle or Social Benefits Delta Airline’s employees are provided with fully paid vacation offers during the holiday seasons. Family members are also included. Employees are also exposed to the relevant education programs that improve their expertise in the specific fields of operation. In addition, the airline’s personnel buy various products offered within the company’s premises at a subsidized price. The discounts are also applicable in the provision of certain services to the personnel. Challenges Regarding Employee Performance and Motivation at Delta Airlines The travel benefits only apply if there are extra seats. Therefore, the employees and their families may not be able to enjoy the privileges if all the seats are filled by revenue passengers During the peak season, some employees are forced to work overtime given the fact that the airline is operational on a 24 hour basis. This works against their motivation and tends to demoralize them. Catering for the flight and vacation expenses for the employees and the eligible family members is an expensive venture. The expense is substantial especially during off-peak seasons when the profit margins are lower (Kaufman, 2013). Lack of flexibility at the work place. Working hours at the airlines are rigid and some employees have to conform to the dress code that the company requires and not the one they prefer. For employees to stay motivated, the airline should organize the working schedule with regard to the other commitments that the employees may have for example children school hours. Conclusion The motivation of employees is an integral and vital process within the airline. Delta Airlines has ensured that the welfare of their employees has been given prior consideration. Solutions to employee healthcare problems have been provided for example through insurance. The financial needs of employees have been addressed through saving schemes and provision of rewards. The airline has not side-lined the personnel’s social lives and has offered them good vacation packages. References Delta Airlines (2015). Benefits and Travel Privileges. Delta Jobs. Web. June 4, 2015. Accessed from http://www.deltajobs.net/travel_and_benefits.htm Grodal, S., Nelson, A. J., & Siino, R. M. (2015). Help-Seeking and Help-Giving As an Organizational Routine: Continual Engagement in Innovative Work. Academy Of Management Journal, 58(1), 136-168. doi:10.5465/amj.2012.0552 Kaufman, B. E. (2013). Keeping the Commitment Model in the Air during Turbulent Times: Employee Involvement at Delta Air Lines. Industrial Relations, 52(S1), 343-377. Nelson, D. L. & Quick, J. C. (2013). Organizational Behavior: Science the Real World and You (8th ed). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Williams, C. (2012). Effective management: A multimedia approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Read More