What employees need to know about their employees.

Time and again we find ourselves re-recruiting trying to fill in the voids left by employees either through death, for another organisation, promotion or dismissal. The West, The US and Arab nations were hit by a recession just over 5 years ago and most countries are still yet to fully recover and put structures in place to sustain their economies. In this time most people lost their savings, homes and mostly the job market was hit due to a lot of companies going into administration leaving a huge unemployment figures.

The sectors which were not affected where business which give daily services and people need regardless what direction the economy is taking. Employees became aware of the importance of their jobs and did everything in their power to secure their employment. Skill really didn't matter since it was up to the HR DEPARTMENT 'who was to stay and let go'.  360 degree feedback became more effective than ever, the employer felt that they had to retain the most effective teams and individuals who could (i) work together effectively to achieve the organisational goals (ii) do the same work for less money than the others. This generally meant that people had to do more with less - long story short the most skilled were very vulnerable.

Employers felt this was the best way forward, since there was little information about any recession precedence they thought that they were ahead of their game. Many individuals struggled to secure new jobs mostly which were not even in their trade/profession just to sustain their family day to day living. Finally their comfort zone had been shifted, stakeholders is one word which sums a bunch of people from different backgrounds and at different levels. I am sure by now you know which level will be affected the most, the bottom of the food chain definitely employees.

Over the years the situation has evolved and with the global economies recovering employees have realised that they are just as good as the next. As a general term and notion employees now keep a close eye and ear on the ground so that this time they can see it coming. Employees now know that they are disposable when the going gets tough, employees now know that redundancies are a way of life and can come at anytime and most importantly you will need a back-up plan in the event any of this catches up with you. Employers need to know that the second an employee is offered a new venture they will not be loyal but do what in their best interest, unlike back in the day a comfortable work environment could suffice for an employee - the tables have turned employees now know how to protect themselves and more.

Employers now need to understand that not only is job security motivates employees but being part of the business will now go a long way to retain and have impeccable structures. Employees are now watching their backs clearly who could blame them after what happened, incentives used to go a long way but this time they will not cut it. Shares, shares, shares will probably be the greatest selling point for any employee who needs to be retained. For example the Royal Mail being sold means its going private and to secure jobs and reassure employees that they are still going to be part of the new venture they have offered each employees shares worth £2000, which will go a long way in a company as huge and effective as the main mail distributor in the whole of the United Kingdom.

Therefore employers please be informed that employees are not only an asset to your business but family and need to be treated as such in every aspect. "I have been very fortunate to have had a boss who treated me this way and as a gesture offered an honorary lifetime position in their company which I think is fantastic". So employers be always aware of your employees needs otherwise you will lose them to your competition or better yet they will become your competition. In a nutshell, 'never take them for granted - especially the hardworking ones.'