Workers get the blues
Jan 26 2010
Employers need to motivate staff as levels of job satisfaction have hit an all-time low, says the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Only 35 per cent of employees say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 48 per cent last summer, while 29 per cent report a worsening in standards of living, according to a survey from the CIPD.
Claire McCartney, CIPD lead adviser, says: ‘Even though the economy is no longer flat on its back, the “real economy” as experienced in the day-to-day lives of workers is crippled. Employers are going to have to continue to work hard to re-build motivation and commitment among employees bruised by job insecurity, lack of consultation over change and pay.’
Workers say they are unhappy with the lack of opportunities available to learn new skills, with almost a quarter (23 per cent) reporting cut backs on training in response to the recession. Some 49 per cent say stress levels have increased, 24 per cent report rises in absenteeism, and 18 per cent believe work-based conflict has increased.
Gillian Dowling, a consultant at HR firm Croner, says: ‘Employees have been through a lot this past year, many experiencing large scale redundancies for the first time, and a large number accepting variations to contractual terms, including reduced working hours and pay freezes – so it’s not surprising many people are still feeling unsettled.’
Of the 2,000 employees surveyed, 19 per cent think it is likely or very likely that they could lose their job.