Employer Confidence- the Achilles Heel to Productivity

The latest HR Quarterly Index released by a national research hub, the HR Coach Research Institute, reveals a critical confidence crisis amongst Australian employers going into the new year.

The HR Coach HR Quarterly Index is a national research initiative that provides a new and innovative perspective on pressures within Australian workplaces across industries and Australian States.

Latest findings show that National Employer Confidence is at a critical level and is at risk of reducing business productivity levels.

Louise Broekman, Founder of the recruitment and coaching franchise, says “National Employer Confidence is only 65% which is a major concern for both the economy and individuals businesses as these results were collected prior to the significant shift in global market conditions at the end of 2008.”

“Employers in the business sector are the powerhouses of the Australian economy and their lack of confidence and satisfaction in their business strategy is keeping them awake at night. Although Employee Confidence is relatively high at 73%, we know that employers set the tone in an organisation and this may have a detrimental effect on ongoing employee confidence and productivity.”

Results from the research indicate that there is a common link between key factors contributing to the lack of employer and employee satisfaction. Employers are most concerned with areas relating to strategic planning and implementation in their business, while employees are most concerned with knowing how the business is performing and future direction.

“The mandate is clear,” said Broekman, “employers need support in the articulation and implementation of their business planning. Without a plan and clear directives on implementation, employers can become the obstacle to productivity in their business. Employees need direction and open communication from the employer to ensure they remain engaged and productive within the business.”

A full copy of the HR Quarterly Index can be downloaded from the HR Coach Website. As the pressure points for business continue to evolve, the HR Coach business services franchise seeks to collate and understand new trends whilst also investigating the impacts of Generation Y on the Australian labour market, international labour trend comparisons, and how industries translate strategy to action.

HR Coach supports a national network of specialists focused on integrating people management into strategic business planning and is continually developing new approaches, products and systems to boost the powerhouse SME sector in Australia.