A Unique Employee Organization being liquidated by GE

Last week I was delighted to be able to discuss my book ( The Secret to GE's Success) and evaluation of GE's current "GO BIG" strategy with 150 Senior Elfuns in Schenectady, NY.

The Elfun Society was formed by Gerard Swope in 1928 to enable the company to gain the objective insights (even criticisms) from a select group of GE managers and professionals.

This was the mission of the organization from Swope's own words: "A society which would be their own, which would be separate and independent of the company and where we can have an open form for discussion, where any question may be asked and will bring someone to his feet to answer it".

In short, Gerard Swope was interested in getting the input of his "best and brightest" and to challenge his strategies and actions. In addition, he established one of the first "mutual funds" so that GE leaders would increase their personal wealth outside of company stock and had a managerial education program.

Over the years, the Elfun Society moved into providing volunteer work for the GE communities. For instance, the Schenectady chapter has a unique personal computer program, where it salvages old computers and gives them to needy schools and students. It helps to rehabiliate community buildings, parks and so on. In short, it makes a great contribution and shows the world that GE and its employees care.

The ELFUN society is truly unique and should be encouraged and developed, but interestingly enough, GE has been trying for the past few years to liquidate the organization, even though it continues to do "volunteer work" and serve as an alumni association and place where retirees can keep their company friendships alive and learn about what is happening in GE today. It has discouraged recruiting new members and having meetings.

Most companies today, say that they want to get employees involved and have the benefit of their objective opinions and insights, but few have an organization like the Elfuns to build on and use for this purpose.

I don't understand why GE is not growing and supporting the ELFUNs and trying to liquidate it, DO YOU?

If you want to learn more about the ELFUN society review pages 43-44... and if you want to see how Swope invited the Union to organize the company...continue to read the next feww the next few pages.

Swope truly believed in having employee participation and gaining the insights of others. Many talk about it but few do it.