The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged
companies to invest in staff to ensure they do not face an exodus of talent
once the recession has passed.
It conducted a study which found that more than one-third of employees in
the UK would like to leave their jobs and find new positions once the
economic downturn is over.
Many have been forced to stay put in their current positions because of
fears about job security and a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
However, the CIPD has warned that companies need to start taking steps to
improve loyalty among their workforces.
Failure to do this could see many people "vote with their feet" and move to
another firm, it claimed.
Claire McCartney, talent and resourcing adviser for the CIPD, said bosses
need to ensure they do not become complacent.
"The recession may keep your best people with you for now, but you need to
take the time to focus on building employee engagement by providing
employees with clarity around career paths and setting work that is
meaningful to them, if you want them to stay put when better times return,"
she commented.
According to the research conducted by the CIPD, the sectors that are most
likely to see workers moving in the post-recession era are banking and
finance and construction.
Earlier this month, Ben Manickam, director of the Centre for Graduate
Studies at the University of Peradeniya, told the Daily Mirror that a
recession could be a good time to invest in workers.
As well as improving loyalty and motivation within a company, it could also
enhance a firm's ability to thrive once business starts to pick up again,
he claimed.
To find out more how learndirect can help your business through the recession, see our redundancy support for your business section for more details.
