Is Your Organization Ready For The Year of The Employee?
One of the essential qualities of any strong leader is the ability to continually look forward and ask the question: What’s next? The truth of the matter is that these days building a successful business is so much more than strategy and operational savvy; it’s now also about cultivating an environment where employees can thrive.
Since the Great Recession began seven years ago employers have enjoyed a substantial advantage in the labor market. At the peak of unemployment in 2009, there were roughly five unemployed workers per job opening, creating a buyer’s market in which businesses could afford to skimp on programs aimed at motivating and retaining workers.
Those days are over. Today, there are just two workers for every opening and the unemployment rate dropped in January to its lowest point in six years. Workers are feeling increasingly empowered to pursue opportunities that meet their personal and professional needs. 2015 is the Year of the Employee. The burden is now on corporations to keep pace by developing creative solutions that cultivate healthy, productive and loyal employees.
Employees now have the luxury of looking beyond money and title to something less tangible but far more powerful: Quality of Life. This is not only beneficial to the employee, but also to the organization because an employee’s level of fulfilment or satisfaction has continuously proven to be a key indicator of their overall performance.
