When a volcano meets a tornado: GFC wrecking ball collides with Gen Y
04/08/2010
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By Clare Costigan
Alarming results from two recent surveys reveal erosion of motivation and a loss of mental toughness has fully spawned in the workplace with Gen Y females the worst affected.
The rogenSi 2010 Global Mindset Index looked inside the mindset of the workforce across 26 key behaviour areas including company prospects, passion, worth ethic, leadership, motivation, self-belief, organisation strategy and teamwork.
Gen Y responded worst with their self-belief hammered by the GFC.
They recorded an almost 25% (22.5%) drop in passion for the job from last year's results and as a group they are questioning themselves more than any other age group.
Gen Y results reveal females to be suffering the most with a massive 23% admitting to a drop in passion for the job as well as falls in self-belief and mental strength.
The workforce on a whole responded badly with key internal motivating mindset down and a passion for the job shrinking, the results dropping an alarming 18% on the previous year.
Possibly the most distressing of all findings was the discovery that 26% of the workforce is suffering World Health Organisation indicators of depression.
rogenSi director and psychologist, Dr Clark Perry, said only a year ago the Index showed that while employees doubted their leaders, they still believed in themselves. "These results ring alarm bells for organisations. Uncertainty and nervousness across the global marketplace are now being internalised and have dramatically affected employees.
"Following the GFC, some organisations have been operating at a frenetic pace and have become blinkered and so focused on trying to achieve outcomes or indeed just survive. The result has been much more demand on employees' times with little or no reward or recognition for the effort," Perry said.
And these results are not alone, Sydney based firm Aequalis consulting have released their own survey findings showing 22% of workers would consider leaving their current employer without an opportunity to go to. Sixty-seven per cent suggested progression was their main motivator for their job search, whilst a further 23% claimed increase in pay was their draw card.
An alarming 54% confirmed low morale and stress caused by increase workload during 2009 beginning of 2010 was a major contributor.
These results completely conflict with a survey conducted in May last year, with 72% of respondents confirming they would stay in their current job due to the uncertainty in the economy, even if they were unhappy.
Director of Aequalis Consulting, Simon Boulton, said these results come as no surprise as many employers have taken advantage of the economic conditions, and neglected their employees at huge costs. "Employers need to better understand the changes in employees' sentiment and expectations, and need to address succession planning and re introduce employee benefits such as training and development," he said.
Whilst hiring is on the increase, and teams are expanding, Boulton predicts that many employers will need to have retention strategies in place as disgruntled employees are prepared to walk. "Now is a good time for employers to empower hiring managers, and equip them with training and development in how to hire," he said.
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Stuart on
06 Aug 2010 08:41 AM
I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of the constant pandering to Gen Y that seems to dominate discussions relating to the attraction and retention of talent. Whilst the recent GFC has had a dramatic affects on peoples’ lives and employment trends; it has also provided this generation a valuable dose of reality. I recently heard the GFC described as Gen Y’s ANZAC Cove; how true!
The majority of individuals who have survived the organisational realignments initiated by the GFC will generally be those most valued by their current or new employers. They will be people with talent, resilience and a team focused work ethic that delivers results. The GFC proves that Charles Darwin’s theory is valid.
My message to Gen Y is “harden up” the world owes you nothing, learn from this event and re-align your self-centred, instant gratification values. Remember we have an ageing population and employers will soon realise there is a large number of older candidates with years of experience, knowledge and expertise who are not as “high maintenance” as Gen Y. As a result of the GFC and poor Superannuation returns, this generation will need to keep working!
Connie Hevron on
09 Aug 2010 02:00 PM
Maybe it might be a little bit more helpful to look beyond the lables which clearly trigger all sorts of judgements which aren't necessarily helpful. We're talking about younger people in organisations and also females who have something positive to bring to the workplace for everyone - if supported.
Experience and resilience don't come over night to any of us and we're not all born tough. Organisation structures, poor communication, panic and game playing don't produce the best results for male or female but let's not kid ourselves about the stress that many people are feeling in the workplace. It stikes me that if there were more females embedded in key positions of influence in organisations then the skills of communication, teamwork and providing flexibility would be more readily available to organisations and the ttype of stress we see wouldn't exist. Please note that this comment comes from supporting the benefits of balance not from a gender or age preference platform.