CIPD employee outlook spring 2016

The results of a recent CIPD survey on employee views about working life are concerning for UK businesses. Read on to find out more, in particular how you would answer the questions…

Results suggests that job satisfaction has decreased substantially from autumn 2015 as is at its lowest level for over two years. This figure has decreased the most in the private sector. Motivation, a key element of employee engagement is important for driving improved individual and business performance. Results indicate that employee motivation is low, with only 35 percent of employees agreeing that ‘this organisation really inspires the very best of me in the way of job performance’.

How would your employees answer that question?

Leaders are critical drivers in increasing employee engagement and research suggests that high engagement leads to increased productivity and profit. As managers, the way we consult with our people about important decisions can influence how employees feel about both you as their manager and the organisation. This survey indicates that fewer employees agree that their leaders have a clear vision of where the organisation is going compared with 2015 and very few employees believe that leaders consult them about important decisions. This underlines the importance of high quality communication and consultation with employees. Although scores were high for employee’s understanding of the organisation’s core purpose, they were very low for being motivated by the core purpose.

Do you have a clear vision and do your people understand your core purpose and are motivated by it?
Confidence in senior managers’ ability has worsened, however satisfaction with line managers is up slightly. Scores were high for line managers treating people fairly and making clear what is expected of them and are supportive, however were low for coaching on the job, discussing training and development needs and providing feedback on performance. How can you help your managers to improve their coaching skills? Our Management Development Programme can provide your managers with the skills needed.

The importance of workplace health and well-being has been high on the agenda in the last few years, however the results of this survey suggest that it is not viewed as a strategic priority in spite of the benefits for employees and businesses. Scores for employees’ ability to achieve work life balance are stable. However, a third of employees say that they come home from work often or always exhausted. Good news is that people are most likely to say that work makes them feel cheerful, based on a range of emotions. We are passionate about having fun in the workplace, and believe it helps us to be more creative and engaged. Scores were equally low for the job making people feel both excited and miserable.

Would your people say that they feel more excited or miserable about their job?

Do you have a performance management system and if so, do people consider that it’s fair? 57 percent of those questioned had a process and of those almost a quarter considered that it’s unfair. Although reward based performance management systems are often designed to motivate people the reality is that they often demotivate. An effective non-financial reward is learning and development. About 42 percent of employees are satisfied with the opportunity to develop their skills. Although only 9 percent of people had received coaching, 90 percent of them rated it as useful or very useful, again reinforcing the value of coaching.

The survey suggests that almost a quarter of people are currently looking for a new job, up from a fifth in 2015. Combined with a slump in job satisfaction and low motivation, this is a worrying trend.

Do you need help in understanding how engaged your people are?

We can work with you to help you to unlock the potential of your business and workforce. Click here for more information.