(PRWEB) Aug. 18, 2006 – There was a time when an employee would give 30 years to the same company, retiring with a gold watch and a well-earned sense of loyalty. Those days, for the most part, are over.
An employee willing to remain loyal to a single company has become an antiquainted concept, as outdated as the typewriter or vinyl record. In a startling report published late last year in USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, just 34 percent of the more than 2,500 employees surveyed nationally said they felt satisfied with their job and are devoted to their company.
The number, which is actually an increase from the 24 percent of workers deemed loyal in 2001, still makes employers shudder since, according to the survey, seven of 10 employees are dissatisfied, feel trapped or are planning to leave. The statistics paint an unnerving picture for businesses, who are turning to companies like the National Business Research Institute to help gauge employee attitudes and needs.
“It’s especially vital nowadays that employers are in tune with the pulse of their employees,” said Dr. Jan West, founder and CEO of the Texas-based NBRI. “Companies have to treat employees like their best customers, and the way to do that is ask them the right questions with employee satisfaction surveys. NBRI’s surveys give clients insight into widely shared employee views and identify the reasons for employee opinion.”
Opinions about the prototypical company have changed 180 degrees as Generation Y has entered the workforce, making the employee satisfaction survey even more important. The generation – which makes up roughly 70 million workers – is considered to be starkly different from previous ones. With higher financial IQs, a pampered upbringing and a willingness to challenge the status quo, Generation Y employees have less fear about job-hopping, which creates a major headache for employers trying to retain the top talent.
The workforce has changed from the traditional do-what-the-boss says environment to one where creativity and independent thinking are taking hold. The smartest companies, whether they’re in the Fortune 500 or not, are beginning to adapt to the trend by conducting extensive annual surveys that ask employees what they want from the company. NBRI, which conducts more than 1,500 surveys annually, stands out from the crowd by using the highest levels of statistical analyses to break down survey results. Employing more than 30 PhD’s, NBRI takes the scientific approach to each study, ensuring levels of quality unmatched by the competition.
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Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.