Who’s most anxious about job security?
Filed under: In this week's e-newsletter, IT staffing, Latest News & Views
In a rough economy, HR has a new challenge to overcome: helping employees deal with anxiety about their finances and futures.
The amount of worry employees are feeling varies depending on what field they’re in, according to a recent survey by Yahoo Hot Jobs.
Most concerned are employees in manufacturing and operations, with 27% of those workers saying they’re anxious about job security. Construction workers are second at 23%.
IT employees are also very concerned, with 20% of them reporting serious anxiety.
How supervisors can help
Examples of problems that may be caused by employees’ concerns: low morale, drops in productivity and higher turnover. Many employees are considering taking new jobs or even switching careers to find work that’s more secure, Yahoo reports.
The most important role player in helping employees stay focused and productive: their managers. Here are some tips for supervisors on managing people during uncertain times, according to HR consultant Bill Treasurer:
- Acknowledge the challenges while looking forward. Managers need to give employees solid advice on what the company and its workers can do to get through a difficult period.
- Don’t resort to threats. Sometimes managers’ own fears are reflected in how they manage their staffs. But getting too hard on people will only make things worse.
- Avoid sugar-coating everything. If managers remain overly upbeat no matter what happens, employees will see right through it. The key is to be optimistic, yet realistic.
- Look for opportunities. Challenges often bring out the best in great employees. Tough times can be a good opportunity for managers to find the most innovative and dedicated people on their staff.
