It is widely known and accepted that employee engagement is critical to productivity and improving your company's bottom line. As 2011 draws to a close and we look to 2012, and a (hopefully) improving job market, employment agency Randstad released some concerning numbers this week. In their annual "Employee Attachment Index" survey, which measures employee-employer attachment, it appears that employee engagement is decreasing and that many employees are looking to move on, as soon as the market is more stable.
- 56 percent of those surveyed believe they would not be able to find a job they would accept
- nearly half expect the job market to improve next year
- 47 percent plan to explore other opportunities as soon as the job market picks up
Some of this may be due to recent market research that suggest that employees do not feel as engaged at work, and are simply going through the motions out of necessity. It is important to involve your employees in the company, and ensure they feel appreciated especially during the holiday season. Small tokens of appreciation such as a small gift card or flexible holiday hours can really improve their outlook. The promising news is that 74% of those surveyed feel optmistic about their organization's future, so ensure that they see themselves as a part of that future, and not just a cog in the wheel.
