Communication and Employee Relations in the University Libraries of Sri Lanka: Perception of Staff Members

Abstract

Communication is a medium used by people to interact and relate with each other. The purpose of this paper is to identify the management styles in relation to communication and employee relations, barriers to open communication and the factors that impede effective employee relations in Sri Lankan university libraries. The research study was based on two universities in the Colombo area. The sample data was collected by interviewing eight para-professionals and four minor staff members from each university library. The study found that the autocratic management styles of the majority of the management in both libraries adversely affected the morale of the employees when performing their duty in the library. The study further revealed that conflict situations between management and employees are common in both universities. Finally, the respondents stated that both libraries predominantly use interpersonal or informal communication methods to transmit messages to the employees in comparison to formal and technological methods.