Are your Employees Insecure About Their Job?
Employees that feel insecure in their jobs are more likely to experience greater levels of work-life conflict and emotional exhaustion, according to a new study.
Representatives of the University of Illinois, Texas A&M University and California State University recently co-authored a report on how perceptions of job security can affect employee performance.
They found a clear link between workers that are uncertain about their performance and the stability of their employment, and negative symptoms that can impact productivity and performance.
The most troubling factor is that these insecure employees are also the least likely to take advantage of organisational support programs put in place purely to help those in their position.
University of Illinois professor of labour and employment relations T. Brad Harris says that the study came about due to concerns over how the weak US economy has “left many workers fearful of keeping their job”.
“Specifically, we wanted to better understand how feelings of job insecurity influence employees’ reactions and, more importantly, what organisations can do to improve their circumstances,” explained Mr Harris.
Of course, the US is not the only country where employees are often fearful over the security of their employment. Unemployment in Australia has recently topped 6 per cent, and a number of industries are facing economic difficulties as the resource boom continues to slow down.
For that reason, Australian employers may want to look closely at the results of this study and consider what they can do to ensure their employees feel appreciated and secure in their roles.
One of the best ways to do this is to communicate relevant workforce performance indicators to your staff, to provide them with timely feedback and measurable records of their performance.
Armed with this information – which can be easily collated and distributed using HR management software (HRMS) – your employees will have a better idea as to where they stand in the company.
At the same time, managers and decision makers will also know exactly which employees are performing and which are struggling, allowing them to make better and more informed decisions about who needs assistance.
