Dive Brief:
- Training and clear communication from senior leadership may alleviate some workers’ worries about job security, an Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey found. More than 4 in 10 workers said as much, according to the Sept. 10 results.
- Employer respondents said they’re taking at least one of those steps: Nearly 90% of hiring managers said their organization has taken specific steps to improve feelings of job security, and they most commonly pointed to upskilling.
- However, only a third of workers said their workplace leadership consistently and transparently shares information with employees. About half said their company uses “selective sharing,” and 18% said leadership rarely shares information.
Dive Insight:
Worker confidence hit a record low this year, according to a Glassdoor report. Employee reviews on the site were found to increasingly mention layoffs and economic concerns, leading an economist at the firm to conclude that broad anxiety may be overriding employees’ feelings about their individual employers.
Still, stress about job security has real implications for the workplace: Research published in May by the American Psychological Association pointed to sleep and productivity disruptions, as well as increased turnover.
Notably, middle managers have reported higher levels of job-security stress than others, and poor communication may be to blame, April research from Perceptyx suggested. They’re the employees likely to hear information early and may end up “absorb[ing] every scary rumor across the company,” a director at the firm said.
The most recent findings, however, may provide a roadmap for HR professionals hoping to mitigate some of those fears. "Organizations that invest in transparent communication and continuous skill development aren't just retaining talent,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, president and chairman of Express Employment International, in a statement; “they’re building a workforce equipped to navigate change and drive long-term growth.”
