commentaHRy
2010 -- What Me Worry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elliot Clark
CEO
 

According to a recent survey published by HR Morning.com the top concerns of employers are:
 

1. Providing competitive compensation (34%)
2. Maintaining productivity levels (33%)
3. Retaining top talent (31%)
4. Worker burnout (30%), and
5. Providing employees with opportunities to move up in the organization (25%)

 
The authors acknowledge compensation is a challenge as the most recent Conference Board study shows US job satisfaction at the lowest point in decades due to compensation cuts.   Employers are focusing on ways to engage employees without payroll increases. This is often the reaction of employers in challenging economic times. 

 
Other surveys showed worker productivity lagging due to lower morale. However, despite these micro surveys, macroeconomic data showed that worker productivity moved up in 2009. Why?  Workers surviving massive RIFs worked hard to keep their jobs and save their companies. They may or may not have done it out of loyalty, necessity or fear. But they may have been overworked, again.    Many studies show that what engages employees and maintains engagement is better relationships internally with supervisors and co-workers, identification with the company’s mission and policies.  Employers in HR Morning’s survey identified the following steps:
 

1. Offer more flexible work arrangements (28%)
2. Provide more training (21%)
3. Promise future benefits, like raises or promotions, when the economy picks back up (18%)
4. Offer more performance-based incentives, like company-paid vacations (16%), and
5. Provide a higher title without a salary increase (7%).

It is interesting that only 21% focused on training and one wonders how much is for first line management tasked with keeping the productivity levels sustained. 2010 has opened on a much more optimistic note from a business perspective but at some point, compensation levels will have to reward the employees who persisted through the tough times and retention programs will have to address more than compensation because someone can always pay more.