Which of the following statements is best regarding employee empowerment?

The correct statement regarding employee empowerment is that line employees are given more authority to make decisions. Employee empowerment is fundamentally about delegating authority to those at all levels of an organization, especially to front-line employees who have direct interaction with products, services, and customers. When employees are empowered, they are trusted to take ownership of their work and make decisions that can lead to better service, improved processes, and enhanced job satisfaction. This results in a more responsive and agile organization, as employees who are closest to the work can make informed decisions quickly.

In contrast, the other statements misinterpret the concept of empowerment. For instance, stating that management is relieved of the responsibility for company decisions undermines the collaborative nature of empowerment, as accountability and support must still exist. Allowing employees to set their wage rates and hours of work goes beyond typical empowerment, as these decisions are often dictated by company policies and labor laws, reflecting a misunderstanding of the boundaries of empowerment. Lastly, concentrating decision-making power in a small upper-level management group directly opposes the idea of empowerment, which seeks to distribute decision-making power more broadly throughout the organization.