Many employees feel they’re being let down by their bosses, who the say are failing to prepare them for the future.
A Kelly Services survey has found just 42 percent of employees feel their bosses have prepared them for the future, 40 percent say they haven’t been well-prepared and 18 percent are uncertain.
According to Kelly Services Australia managing director Karen Colfer, the employees are rating their bosses an average 6.5 out of 10.
“Employees’ views of an organisation carry a lot of credibility and send a clear signal about how people are managed and the best places to work,” Colfer said.
“They have a significant impact on the ability of a business to attract and retain talent.”
The findings also show 57 percent of employees would recommend their current employer to a friend. Other key survey findings include:
- Both Gen Y (aged 18-29) and Gen X (aged 30-47) agree that Gen X make the best leaders with 46 percent of Gen X and 41 percent of Gen Y choosing Gen X as the best leaders. Baby boomers (aged 48-65) strongly believe that their own generation are the superior business managers with 54 percent of baby boomer respondents choosing baby boomers as the best leaders.
- The most important quality in a good boss is communication style, nominated by 28 percent, ahead of leadership style at 23 percent and vision and clear direction at 20 percent.
- Just 39 percent of respondents describe their organisation’s leadership culture as either “empowering” or “inclusive”. 34 percent describe it as “authoritative” or “oppressive”.
- Around 48 percent say their efforts at work are recognised and rewarded.
- Among those respondents who say they feel rewarded and recognised for their work 69 percent say this takes the form of being “noticed by management”, while 15 percent receive bonuses or incentives, and 12 percent are acknowledged through formal programs.
“Employers are under intense scrutiny from a range of stakeholders, and employees are increasingly making judgements about their effectiveness, and how they rate as desirable places to work,” Colfer said.
According to Colfer, to increase job satisfaction employers need to ensure that career development is a priority and that hard work does not go unnoticed.
