As the Canadian Dollar drops, oil prices plummet and there is speculation of a housing crisis again, several industries and sectors will be badly hit. This\u00a0may result in the need for layoffs, reduced budgets and fewer investments.\u00a0 Many employees have experienced several economic downturns in their careers. During turbulent times, it is critical for leaders to focus on their people.<\/p>\n
There are several reasons why:<\/p>\n
As your organization reacts to changing markets, employees will have to do more with less. At the same time, your employees may be concerned about whether or not they will be able to keep their jobs.<\/p>\n
Experienced employees may be concerned about their personal financial situation or the security of their jobs.\u00a0 Younger employers will manage their concerns by updating their resumes, budgeting for the eventuality of downsizing and actively considering other employment options.<\/p>\n
The more leaders involve employees in creating solutions to your business\u2019 challenges, the more you will mitigate their concerns and worry. Fear and worry cause people to be less productive, because their minds are distracted by matters other than the work at hand. \u00a0Look for ways to keep team members focused on achieving a common goal and provide incremental rewards along the way to demonstrate an appreciation for their dedication and hard work.<\/p>\n
As businesses need to adjust quickly to changing markets, so too do leaders.\u00a0 This requires making change management decisions rapidly and helping employees through the change transition process.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s natural for employees to resist change. What leaders need to do to help employees move to the desired future state as quickly as possible is:<\/p>\n
Gen Xers have already experienced several downturns in the economy throughout their careers and Gen Ys are often very flexible and adaptable. In addition, many Gen Ys have the support of their parents and may choose not to work somewhere if they are not happy regardless of the economic situation<\/p>\n
For some employees, an economic downturn may be an opportunity to go back to school, volunteer or work abroad. Addressing their needs during a tough period will keep them more engaged and you will be more likely to retain them. The goal isn\u2019t to keep employees forever; the goal is to retain high performing employees for as long as possible, ensuring they are highly motivated and engaged.<\/p>\n
HR professionals and leaders need to recognize that how you treat employees today will impact your ability to recruit and retain talent \u00a0in the future, especially during positive growth cycles.If you don\u2019t treat employees fairly now, you run the risk that they will jump ship the moment the labour market allows them to do so.<\/p>\n
Gen Ys, who have high expectations of corporate social responsibility, consider the treatment of employees as a factor when evaluating your organization\u2019s level of responsibility. They are often very connected with their \u2018pack\u2019 and are fantastic viral messengers. Many Gen Ys use the internet to warn each other of corporate cultures that are not engaging. This may impact employees\u2019 decisions to join, leave or stay with your organization.<\/p>\n
Your organization\u2019s reputation is bound to be broadcast through Twitter, Facebook or a blog. This could impact your future ability to get, keep and grow a high performing workforce if you don\u2019t have a strong employer brand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why Focusing on Employees During an Economic Downturn is Critical As the Canadian Dollar drops, oil prices plummet and there is speculation of a housing crisis again, several industries and sectors will be badly hit. This\u00a0may result in the need … Continue reading