Some Startling Employee Engagement Statistics

From the latest Towers Perrin Workplace Watch research come these startling findings on employee engagement:

• A 7% drop in workers stating they can balance both work and personal responsibilities - in just the past quarter.
• Almost three-quarters (74%) of employees agree their company’s structure facilitates efficient operations, up from 66% in the last quarter of 2008 and 58% in the first quarter of 2008, suggesting the latest rounds of restructuring have been done thoughtfully and in a manner that doesn’t automatically demand doing more with less.
• 71% percent agree they’re not seriously considering leaving their current job, up from 64% in the last quarter of 2007.
• Only 69% of employees agree that they clearly understand their company’s broad goals, down a striking 10 percentage points from 79% in the fourth quarter of 2008

To ensure employees stay engaged and connected, particularly in the current environment. the authors summed it up:

Companies need to focus on five things:

1. Getting leaders out front to talk with employees about the business environment and how the organization is responding as well as the long-term vision and what the organization stands for.
2. Involving employees in efforts to manage costs to help them feel like active contributors.
3. Communicating consistently and candidly about both short- and long-term objectives.
4. Listening and gathering input from employees.
5. Promoting development opportunities so people can see a future for themselves worth working toward.