The employees say …

A new report from the global professional services firm of Towers Perrin suggests that employees are feeling increasing stress in the workplace that, if left unchecked, could impact business performance.

Stamford, Conn.-based Towers Perrin surveyed more than 650,000 employees “across a set of large global organizations” and found that only 55% of workers agree they can balance work and personal responsibilities, down from 62% just one quarter earlier.

The inaugural Workplace Watch compares updated data for the first quarter of 2009 with the five preceding quarters to evaluate how the economic downturn is affecting employees’ attitudes about work and levels of engagement, according to the Towers Perrin press release.

Findings from the report include:
• Almost three-quarters (74%) of employees agree their company’s structure facilitates efficient operations, up from 66% in the last quarter of 2008 and 58% in the first quarter of 2008, suggesting the latest rounds of restructuring have been done thoughtfully and in a manner that doesn’t automatically demand doing more with less.

• Roughly 91% understand how their work helps the company achieve its immediate objectives, a view that has held fairly steady over the six quarters studied.

• More than two-thirds (68%) feel their company offers long-term career opportunities for them, up from 60% at the beginning of 2008.

• Also, 77% agree their company is highly regarded by customers, up from 73% the prior year as well, suggesting employees recognize the efforts their companies are making to connect with the marketplace in this tough economy.

• Seventy-one percent agree they’re not seriously considering leaving their current job, up from 64% in the last quarter of 2007. “While our data confirm people are less inclined to switch jobs right now, it’s important to turn those statistics around and remember that 29% of employees are still open to moving elsewhere,” Julie Gebauer, Towers Perrin managing director, noted in the statement. “If engagement doesn’t improve before the upturn begins and the job market opens up again, these individuals could be the first ones out the door. With almost one in three people contributing to ‘latent turnover,’ this is another serious risk to rapid financial recovery and growth — especially if future attrition includes ‘A’ players and people in critical strategic roles.”

• The percentage of employees agreeing top management provides a clear sense of direction dropped significantly, to 63% from 71% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

• The percentage of employees agreeing that top management provides effective leadership also declined this quarter — to 50% from 56% at the end of 2008.

• Only 69% of employees agree that they clearly understand their company’s broad goals, down a striking 10 percentage points from 79% in the fourth quarter of 2008.