Managers face a battle to lift workplace spirits

18 November 2008

Business leaders will have to work harder than ever to make sure their employees are happy in their work as the recession worsens, a new study warns.

Categories: People management  |  Leadership

Managers will have to work even harder to keep morale high in their workplace as the economic downturn bites, a new survey suggests.

Research by consultancy firm Accenture reveals that 61 per cent of business leaders believe that employees are concerned about losing their jobs or that their spirits have fallen.

David Smith, managing director of the firm's talent and organisation practice, said: "In an uncertain economic environment, employers will need to take extra care in keeping employees engaged and ensuring that they maintain their job performance."

While job security is a major worry to staff members now, managers might find themselves having to let people go.

For this reason bosses must work hard to ensure that those who remain behind are happy in what they do, he added.

If they fail to do this, firms could find they face another employee exodus when the economic situation improves as workers looks to change jobs, Mr Smith warned.

Yesterday, the Confederation of British Industry stated that the recession will be longer and deeper than it first feared.ADNFCR-1459-ID-18882204-ADNFCR

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