10 Duties of a welfare officer – A lot of studies have proven that happy employees are more productive than those that aren’t happy in their workplace. This is all thanks to the emphasis employers put in hiring the right welfare officer. Aside from this, being relaxed in the workplace increases the employee’s efficiency, thus leading to more income and high morale, you can never overestimate the benefit the right welfare officer can bring to a company. In this article, we will discuss who a welfare officer is, the duties of a welfare officer, and the skills needed for a Welfare officer role. Let’s dive in.
Who Is A Welfare Officer?
A welfare officer is a person that works to ensure the well-being of a group of people in a place. A welfare officer works together with the human resources department to make sure that every worker is happy with what they are doing; they ensure adequate room for growth and productivity. They also ensure workers are receiving the maximum benefits they deserve.
For example, a welfare officer in a school setting will ensure that every student adapts to the school environment; they will also ensure that all teachers have the resources they need to impact education for the students and are receiving the salary they deserve. A welfare officer is charged with numerous roles, below are some of the duties of a welfare officer.
10 Duties And Responsibilities Of A Welfare Officer
In a business setting, a welfare officer ensures the well-being of workers. They ensure that every worker follows the rules and regulations set by the company. If any employee experiences a grievance, they usually speak with a welfare officer to advocate for their rights.
Sometimes, organizations hire a permanent welfare officer, or they can sign a contract with a private firm to ensure their workers have a healthy working environment. Large operating companies usually hire people who specialize in this expertise. So let’s look at the duties of a welfare officer more broadly.
1. Resolve conflicts
One significant role of a welfare officer is resolving conflicts in the workplace environment. You will also attend meetings with unions, attend workshops and other gatherings related to your work. They act as the bridge connecting employees and their employers, ensuring both parties receive fair treatment.
2. They are the voice of employees
Welfare officers also act as the voice of employees. For example, if there are changes in policies, they will motivate the workers’ behavior and submit a report to the higher officials in case there might be changes that they need to make in the new policies.
3. Ensure the well-being of workers
The welfare officer will check and oversee the entire well-being of the workers. They perform tasks like visiting office canteens to ascertain whether or not the workers are receiving quality food. If there are complaints they will immediately address the issues and take appropriate measures to solve them.
4. Keeping records
Another duty of welfare officers is to keep a record of the welfare activities done by them or their fellow welfare officers. This is beneficial to the company because it will help them keep track of the interest of their workers and also know the areas that need improvement.
5. Deal with licenses and permits
The welfare officer will work with essential departments in the state like the pollution control boards, civil supplies, etc to ensure the company has all the appropriate licenses and permits. Whenever something new comes up that the company has to sign, the welfare officer will work alongside other departments to ensure everything is in the company’s best interest.
6. Guiding workers
Another role of a welfare officer is guiding workers, especially new workers that aren’t yet familiar with the company. They guide the workers on how to speak with prospective customers and close deals so they can bring the best benefits to the company.
7. Monitor cases
Sometimes, unfortunate cases can’t be avoided in the workplace, such as sexual abuse. When this happens, it’s the work of a welfare office to take immediate action, contact the necessary departments, give the victim the compensation they deserve, and hand over the culprit to the authorities.
8. Provide guidelines to the workers
Aside from offering guidance to the employees, it’s the work of a welfare officer to provide the necessary education to help the workers avoid disastrous situations, especially if they work in a risky environment.
9. Arrange awareness programs
A welfare officer also organizes training and awareness programs for the employees on the importance of avoiding unlawful attitudes and how they can protect themselves in unforeseen circumstances. This is because any casualties can affect the reputation of the company.
10. Ensure a positive work environment
The main role of a welfare officer is to ensure a positive work environment in the company; this benefits the workers and the management because it’s only with positivity that the company will move forward and reduce conflicts as much as possible.
Skills Needed For A Welfare Officer Role
Skills a welfare officer requires include;
1. Problem-solving skills
Issues are inevitable in the workplace. Therefore, a great welfare officer should have excellent problem-solving skills. They need to know how to identify the root of a problem, listen carefully to both parties associated with the situation, review information and evidence, evaluate their options, and also implement the best solution.
2. Social perceptiveness
A welfare officer should have the ability to understand people’s reactions and the reason they gave that particular reaction. This way, they can solve many problems between employees and their employers.
3. Critical thinking
They should be able to use logic and reasoning to know the strengths and weaknesses of the workers as well as the areas they need to improve. This way, they will not only know the problem but also provide solutions. Since everybody has different strengths, they will also know where to place every worker based on their strong abilities and strength.
4. Service orientation
Welfare officers should also be service oriented; they should have the capacity to look for ways they can help people actively.
5. Active learning
A successful welfare officer should know the importance of learning new information and keeping up with the latest trends. This will help them in making the right decision and also solve problems that might arise in the future.
6. Monitoring
A welfare officer should also be able to monitor everyone in the company. Besides, their primary duty is to ensure the well-being of the workers, and they can’t achieve that without keeping tabs on the workers. You should assess the performance of the employees to know where they can increase their performance or take immediate action.
7. Time management
Every minute is essential to an employer; the welfare officer ensures every worker executes their job at the right time. They also ensure that every employee of the company adheres to the scheduled time to execute their responsibilities.
8. Technology skills
Today, most things are done digitally; a welfare officer should be versatile with technology and computer software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
9. Negotiating skills
Sometimes a welfare officer will need to resolve a problem or sign a deal by negotiating with both parties, so they need negotiation skills to achieve that.
Qualifications required to apply for a welfare officer job
Below are the essential capabilities you need before you can apply for a welfare officer job
- A bachelor’s degree in social science or other related fields.
- A social work license
- Years of experience, this depends on the company you apply for. Some might require two or three years, while others will hire you as a beginner.
Conclusion
A welfare officer is a person responsible for ensuring the well-being of everyone in a company, community, family, or organization. There are numerous duties of a welfare officer.
Their main duties include keeping records, resolving conflicts, being the voice of employees, guiding workers, ensuring a business or company has the appropriate licenses and permits, and many more. A good welfare officer can bring tremendous growth and improvement to your work environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a welfare officer supports employees with disabilities?
A welfare officer supports employees with disabilities by providing them with assistance to aid them to execute their job efficiently. They might also provide them with accommodations, guidance, and support to ensure they feel included in the workplace.
What are the legal responsibilities of welfare officers in terms of data protection?
The legal duties of a welfare officer concerning data protection include ensuring that all personal and sensitive information and documents of the employees are protected from all sorts of unauthorized access.
What role does a welfare officer plays in addressing sexual harassment in the workplace?
They provide support to the victims and conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the claims.
Are welfare officers in-demand?
Yes, they are. A lot of employers seek welfare officers to help foster a positive work environment.
How does a welfare officer contribute to creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture?
By promoting and encouraging inclusion and diversity, a welfare officer helps in creating a positive work environment. They also help in addressing any concerns that may rise and foster an inclusive workplace culture.
References
- tchc — The benefits of employees’ welfare
- yourarticlelibrary.com — Major benefits of Labour welfare
- practicaladultsinsights.com — what is a welfare officer?
- glasgowunisrc.com – What is the role of a welfare officer
- ordnur.com — job responsibilities of a welfare officer
- Mymajors.com — Welfare officer career
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