"What’s Important to Employees – Holiday Gifts They Will Really Appreciate"

by Donna Hamilton, Legal Administrator,  
Anspach, Meeks & Nunn, L.L.P.

As year-end approaches, many of us are working on employee compensation and benefit packages.  While compensation and benefits are important to employees, many other factors contribute to overall employee job satisfaction.  A recent study conducted by USA Today and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that what employees value and what HR people think they value don’t always correspond.

The following comparison of responses from the survey points out the difference in perceptions between these two groups.

  What HR professionals say drives employee job satisfaction:

·                      Communication between employees and management (77%)

·                      Recognition by management (62%)

·                      Relationship with immediate supervisor (61%)

·                      Job security (59%)

·                      Compensation/pay (54%)

  What employees say drives job satisfaction:

·                      Job security (65%)

·                      Benefits (64%)

·                      Communication between employees and management (62%)

·                      Employee flexibility to balance work/life issues (62%)

·                      Compensation/pay (59%)

On the positive side, more than 75 percent of HR professionals and employees agreed that employees were satisfied with their current jobs.  Only 11 percent of employees indicated overall dissatisfaction with their current jobs.  However, the survey data  present many areas for managers to consider.

It is obvious that employees who are satisfied with their jobs tend to stay with their employers longer. It is important for managers to understand and, where possible, accommodate the changing needs of today’s workforce in order to retain satisfied and motivated employees. 

As you consider your budgets and workplace standards for next year, it may be helpful to remember the issues that employees have identified as important.  Feeling secure in their job ranks as the most important concern, followed by adequate benefits and open communication between employees and management.  The opportunity to balance work and personal life through flexible schedules, compressed work weeks, job sharing, and telecommuting is of great importance to employees.   

Components that make up employee satisfaction vary from individual to individual but implementation of the above practices may result in a happier, more motivated work force.  Happy Holidays!

For more information see shrm/usatoday.com Job Satisfaction Poll