As Thanksgiving draws near during one of the toughest economies in years, most employees are thankful for their jobs, according to a recent survey conducted by Taleo, a provider of management talent solutions. This is good news for employers, and something they too can be thankful for. After all, employees who are happy to have their jobs are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and productive. But wise employers will not take this news (or their employees) for granted. Now is a good time to make sure your workplace generates gratitude (as opposed to thankfulness simply for a paycheck).
While seventy percent of the approximately 900 employees surveyed indicated they are “very thankful” for their jobs, the remaining thirty percent indicated otherwise. A quick review of the sentiments expressed by this minority group can help employers ascertain where to focus their energies rather than resting on their laurels.
A significant percentage complained about a lack of feedback on their performance. Others complained about perceived gender inequities (largely revolving around pay). The survey also revealed that “the younger generation expects a higher level of engagement from employers.” These results can point employers to creative, cost-effective ways to shore up their employee relations. For example, an anonymous employee survey can reveal a lot about your workplace’s particulars. Perhaps it is time to invest in a little performance management training for your supervisors. Maybe some company-wide communications on the state of the business are in order to generate enthusiasm and investment. Or, start planning some holiday festivities to boost morale (more on that one, and how best to avoid the legal pitfalls associated with holiday parties, in an upcoming post).
Generating some workplace thanks does not need to be a time or resource-intense investment. It just requires a little thought. With that in mind, Happy Thanksgiving!
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