We recently undertook a national employee confidence survey that assessed employees’ outlook and perceptions on a number of issues pertaining to the economy, employers, job security and employment opportunities.
262 participants responded to this survey.
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- Employee Confidence Index is 66 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 71 percent in the last quarter of 2017.
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- 60 percent of the participants believe they will get a similar or better job in the next six months if they lose their jobs now as compared to 57 percent of the last quarter of 2017. These results suggest that the job market optimism may be increasing.
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- Majority of the participants (69 percent) are not confident that they will get a cost of living adjustment this year, looking at their organisation’s current circumstances and outlook for the next months compared to the 76 percent for the last quarter of 2017. However, the confidence level has improved from the previous quarter (last quarter of 2017).
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- A large proportion of the participants (81 percent) are not concerned that they could be retrenched in the next six months; this is compared to 77 percent in the last quarter of 2017. The confidence level has improved, highlighting firmer job security.
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- 59 percent of the participants expect things to be better in the next six months; as they look at their organisation prospects; compared to 69 percent in the last quarter of 2017.
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- In the next six months, 61 percent of the participants expect the economy to improve compared with 87 percent in the last quarter of 2017. Confidence in the economy has reduced by 26 percent from the last quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2018.
- 68 percent of the participants believe that the leadership in their organisations are capable of changing the fortunes for the better compared to 67 percent in the last quarter of 2017.
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- The most negative thing that participants experienced in their organisations during the first quarter of 2018 is salary delay (29 percent) as compared to 25 percent of the participants who indicated this factor in the last quarter of 2017.
- Hiring new employees was the most positive thing (41 percent) that happened in the past six months in the participants’ organisation compared to 42 percent in the last quarter of 2017.
Confidence in the economy, in particular, has declined when compared to Q4 2017. In the last six months, participants reported that their benefits were reduced, employees were retrenched and their salaries were not paid on-time. These are not signs of vibrant companies nor economy. Employees may have observed these developments (amongst others) and used them in forming perceptions about the overall economy. To improve confidence, real macro and micro economic fundamentals must begin to show signs of real improvement.
To receive the full Q1 2018 Employee Confidence Survey Report, contact me on the details below.
Memory Nguwi is an Occupational Psychologist, Data Scientist, Speaker, & Managing Consultant - Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd a management and human resources consulting firm. https://www.linkedin.com/in/memorynguwi/ Phone 481946-48/481950/2900276/2900966 or email: mnguwi@ipcconsultants.com or visit our website at www.ipcconsultants.com