Managers responsible for promoting engagement distrust employers ⁰

They may be responsible for upholding their company’s corporate values and ensuring employee engagement, but HR and line managers lack confidence and faith in their employers. According to a survey by Cornerstone OnDemand almost a third (29 percent) of HR and line managers are not proud of their workplace nor do they recommend it. Managers in the Nordics (88 percent), Austria (84 percent), and Spain (81 percent) are the most satisfied with their places of work, whereas Italy (59 percent) and Switzerland (64 percent) are the least proud of their companies and the least willing to recommend it to others. Meanwhile, managers in the UK are struggling with this lack of positivity towards their own company, with only 37 percent agreeing that their company is an attractive employer. The survey also found that the greatest influences on ‘happiness’ in the workplace were revealed to involve career flexibility and technology.

Employees from organisations permitting high levels of internal mobility and internal career moves were 19 percent ‘happier’ than those from employers who do not. IT systems for working remotely and being able to use personal devices at work were the other factors discovered to be most essential to the pride and loyalty of employees.

IT systems for working remotely and being able to use personal devices at work were the other factors discovered to be most essential to the pride and loyalty of employees. The shared denominator is flexibility and the resulting implication of trust; if employees feel that their employer trusts them, they are happier.

The shared denominator is flexibility and the resulting implication of trust; if employees feel that their employer trusts them, they are happier.

In the UK, many also do not see the potential for internal career progression, as only 2 in 5 (42 percent) of those surveyed admitted to having career ambitions within their current company.  UK respondents even outlined that over 1 in 10 employees (11 percent) are not allowed to apply for positions outside of their department.

The study also exposed that the UK was lagging behind its European counterparts in regards to the flexibility of IT systems and the availability of IT tools. The ability to use personal devices in the workplace is a particular problem, with almost half (45  percent) of companies not allowing employees to bring their own devices to work; all leading to a negative effect on happiness in the workplace.

Said Vincent Belliveau, EVP and EMEA General Manager Cornerstone OnDemand:

“Those leading people (managers) and those recruiting into the business (HR) should be company ambassadors, so if they don’t feel proud of who they work for, there’s an issue. The key to employee happiness is more than just a pay bump. Flexibility in progression, development and technology all play a part. Everyone can agree that a happy workforce equals a better and more successful business,”