A glance on the future

Economic downturn Research

SWISS workers facing the global economic crisis are more flexible about their workplace roles and are rediscovering solidarity while management appears to be more open, straightforward, consistent, and fair in their behaviour. This is what a recent survey by Switzerland’s Great Place to Work® Institute (Gptw) found in its “A Glance on the Future” survey.

A glance on the future

Switzerland

Towards the end of 2009, Gptw sent out more than 2600 survey questionnaires and received over 350 responses from Swiss workers on their perceptions of the workplace. Given that the period covered included the onset of the current economic crisis, analysis of responses still indicated a steadiness of perceptions when compared with survey results from previous year. More than half of survey respondents said that that their work environment has remained unchanged in the last few months, and amongst those who perceived changes viewed these as improvements. There appears to be little change in the range of responsibilities that managers gave to employees, nor were there any changes for pride in their own company. Amongst respondents management communication of changes and clarity regarding company goals were perceived to have improved. It appears that the looming economic crisis was also accompanied by management interactions with staff.

The research “A glance on the future” has been managed by C. Milani and A. Borgese from Great Place to Work® Switzerland A SAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY Threat of economic crisis did not necessarily create disparity in recognizing employee merit with only 18% of respondents reporting impartiality having decreased. The study also found that co-workers continued to help each other, with the willingness to provide discretionary contributions to work remaining unchanged for the 58% of respondents. For another 23%, this willingness increased. With regard to company pride, the survey found that for 18% of respondents, it had increased, while for 64% it remained unchanged. 18% of respondents perceived company pride to be decreasing. The survey also gained some insights regarding management quality in response to expected economic troubles. Amongst respondents, 62% believed that management ethics remained unchanged with an expected crisis, while 58% of managers were perceived to be understanding of and were suitably responding to employee needs. There were very little variation between responses to the survey from managers and non managers. In summary, while Gptw’s ‘A Glance on the Future’ points to some measure of ambivalence towards the oncoming economic crisis, it also confirmed the positive mood toward Swiss management’s attitudes towards internal communication. One may also surmise a certain level immobility and dread, amongst respon• dents, that the full force of the economic crisis was yet to hit.

Management’s impartiality in recognizing employees’ merits