Southwest Airline

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussions3

Southwest People Management Strategy3

Employees Rewards and Motivation4

Southwest Culture6

Southwest Strategy to Attract and Retain Employees7

Recommendations8

Conclusion9

Southwest Airline

Introduction

Southwest Airlines is one of the largest airlines measured by the passengers carried every year in the United States. The airline is also known discount airline, in comparison with its competitors. Southwest was founded by Rollin King and Herb Kelleher in 1971. The first operation of airline was Dallas to Houston and San Antonio with simple operating structure. The airline started with a simple strategy; which was to provide the customers airline service with very affordable rates as compare to other airlines. Southwest's excellent human resource and people management is the key behind the success. The mission of Southwest is based on the excellence of customer satisfaction and superior quality service. There is a strong commitment by the airline to ensure good working atmosphere to its employees. There is an encouragement of innovation and creativity to be more effective. There is an overall caring attitude in the organization which is the reason behind the Southwest success and growth.

Discussions

Southwest People Management Strategy

Southwest is one of the outstanding examples in the management of people and collaborative solution of problems even without the use of any advance technology. Southwest ensure excellent relations with its employees even with having to deal with the high number of employees union in a big industry. The importance given to people management and conflict management among employees is the main reason behind the organization's excellent past record with no employees' layoffs in 31+ years and the airline with more profitability as compare to the rest of the industry.

Southwest has a long evolution in management and employees performance. The early stage of managing people was counterproductive, with people spending more time in evaluating each other, finger pointing each other and blaming among each others. But, with the passage of time, Southwest was able to handle the employees in better way and found a way to build excellent employees relationships. As a result people begin to appreciate each other performances and enjoyed each other success which was also in the benefit for the Airline.

After the attack of September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks, Southwest refused to lay off its employees while other airlines shed it employees and routes that were unprofitable. At that time, Southwest was in a very strong financial position; instead of firing its employees because of low sales, the airline took this as an opportunity to make its presence felt with its low cost airline service (Mertens & Vowles, 2012). While other airlines lay off their thousands of employees, Southwest took the stance with no lay-offs response. This was the remarkable achievement by Southwest at that time and it shows superior people management strategy of Southwest avout how well the people are managed in this organization.

Employees Rewards and Motivation

The airline provide various benefits and reward to its employees such as healthcare coverage, annual leaves, family care, insurance facilities and retirement plan etc (Employee…, ...