Just about a month ago, this blog mentioned that company “character” is growing in importance as opposed to corporate “values.” That notion seems to be reinforced by a recent Towers Perrin workforce study.
The study says it is the company – its reputation and credibility of its senior leaders – that most influences an employees’ level of engagement, even more than a solid relationship with the employee’s immediate supervisor.
The study canvassed 90,000 workers in 18 countries. And like the AVIATION WEEK survey of readers and online users last year, it found that people are much more optimistic about work than commonly believed. A full 68% of the respondents feel neutral to “energized” by on-the-job stress.
They don’t view the addition of cell phones, laptops and other mobile technologies as a “24/7 virtual prison” to work. Instead, the technologies are viewed as enabling better balance between work and personal life. I clearly don’t fall into this group – the cell phone is a tether. It doesn't' allow me to sit on the beach and do meetings. It just means I’m on call! Which means I’m out of step with 86% of those responding to the survey.
The survey found that on average people are putting in 45 hours per week; nearly a fifth of the respondents are working more than 50 hours a week on a routine basis. There aren’t many confessed workaholics – 18% say work is the most important aspect of their lives. Just shy of 60% say work supports their lives and the needs of their families/dependents.
One segment of the study was interesting as it reflected findings similar to the AVIATION WEEK survey a year ago. In general, workers believe they are the select people who will succeed. Among U.S. respondents, fully 75% of the respondents believe they will be successful. So much for the bell curves we use to gauge organizational performance. Just as optimistic – 86% of employees worldwide “like” or “love” their job.
Okay, I love my job. But not at the 86% level – closer to 60%. The other 40% of me includes those days when I can’t get people on the phone whom I need to talk to, miscommunication has resulted in rework of some type, or I’m overwhelmed by a combination of tedium and complexity. I want to know who these 86% are and what differentiates 86% from 100%?
