Staff feel undervalued, says Mori

Two-thirds of employees in the UK’s biggest companies feel undervalued, uninvolved, and lack confidence in their organisation’s leaders and vision, according to research conducted by Mori for the Marketing & Communications Agency.

The report, The Buy-In Benchmark, is based on the views of 350 managers and staff at UK organisations employing in excess of 1,000 people. Its key findings suggest a break down in the link between employee and employer.

For example, less than 10 percent of employees were convinced that their views are valued by their organisation. Only 15 percent strongly agreed that they have confidence in their organisation’s leaders. And, in a worrying message for British business leaders, only a quarter of people questioned are strongly committed to help their company succeed. Indeed, the research finds that one in five are “saboteurs”, meaning that they would “bad mouth their organisation”.

Kevin Thomson, chairman of the agency, says: “The study’s findings illustrate that UK organisations are not nourishing their intellectual and emotional capital by cultivating commitment and understanding in their employees. This is a dangerous scenario on the eve of a global recession.”

The agency suggests that a lack of communication between employers and employees is a key factor, leading to negative attitudes among staff.

The study says that staff with high levels of commitment and understanding are more than twice as likely to say that it greatly improves their performance.

They are a third more likely to recommend their organisation to others.

The full report is available from Leigh Rolls at The Marketing & Communications Agency on 01628 473217, priced at #95.