Employee Recognition Rocks

HR Solutions, Inc., a Chicago-based management consulting firm specializing in Employee Engagement Surveys, recently analyzed recurring themes in employee surveys and compiled the following top ten list. These are the items employees consistently complain about on the surveys and when interviewed.

1. Higher salaries – pay is the number one area in which employees seek change.
2. Internal pay equity, particularly having concerns with “pay compression” (the differential in pay between new and more tenured employees).
3. Benefits programs, particularly health/dental, retirement, and Paid Time Off/vacation days. Specifically, many employees feel that their health insurance costs too much, especially prescription drug programs.
4. “Over-management” (A common phrase seen in employee comments is “Too many chiefs, not enough Indians”).
5. Pay increase guidelines should place greater emphasis on merit.
6. The Human Resource department needs to be more responsive to their questions and/or concerns.
7. Favoritism.
8. Improved communication and availability (both from their supervisors and upper management).
9. Workloads are too heavy and/or departments are understaffed.
10. Facility cleanliness.

The job satisfaction study included over 2.2 million respondents with 2,100 organizations representing various industries, all surveyed during the past three years by HR Solutions, Inc.

More information about what makes employees happy:

• Employee Satisfaction Surveys.
• Employee Involvement leads to employee satisfaction.
• Employee Recognition Rocks.