Employees more loyal now, courtesy slowdown

Bangalore: In the wake of the global economic downturn, more than a quarter of employees surveyed worldwide say that the financial crisis has made them more loyal to their employer. According to the survey by workforce solutions provider Kelly Services, organizations with positive management, strong morale and active communications have succeeded in making their workforce more engaged in spite of the uncertainty caused by falling profits and layoffs.

The survey, which was conducted from early October 2009 to the end of January 2010, found that the most 'engaged' employees are in North America, where 52 percent say they are 'totally committed' to their jobs, compared with 47 percent in Asia Pacific and 36 percent in Europe. Over 43 percent of employees say they feel 'totally committed' and 26 percent 'somewhat committed' to their current employer.

The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which obtained the views of approximately 134,000 people in 29 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific including over 4,000 in India alone. "Employers, who have communicated openly with their staff about difficult economic conditions and tried their best to look after staff, have been able to build strong levels of trust in their firms. This heightened loyalty is likely to become a real advantage, with a more committed and focused workforce, as the economy recovers," said Kelly Services Managing Director India, Kamal Karanth.

A total of 27 percent of respondents worldwide say the economic recession made them feel more loyal to their employer, while only 10 percent feel less loyal and 63 percent say it has made no difference. For younger workers, experiencing their first major economic downturn, Gen Y (aged 18-29) have emerged somewhat more loyal than Gen X (aged 30-47) and baby boomers (aged 48-65).