Employee engagement the top HR challenge over next five years

Engagement is the top HR challenge companies face over the next three to five years, according to a survey from the Society for Human Resource Management

Almost seven in ten (69%) of HR professionals participating rated employee engagement as a ‘very important’ priority. A little more than half (53%) of participants said employee recruitment is a ‘very important’ challenge for the next few years. Fifty-one percent pointed to ‘managing the organisational culture’ as another key issue.

The survey results also indicate the importance of recognition programmes: 80% said their organisation has an employee recognition programme in place. The most common recognition areas are:
• Years of service, 58%.
• Going above and beyond with an unexpected (not regular) work project, 48%.
• Successful performance resulted related to the organisational financial bottom-line, 43%.
• Exemplary behavior that aligns with organisation values, 37%.
• Completion of regular work projects with high quality results, 9%.
• Completion of regular work projects at a faster than usual pace, 2%.
Not a single mention of the word customer!
Meantime a new study by Scottish Provident has suggested that financial concerns are the root cause of the heightened tension among British workforces.

One-quarter of respondents admitted they would face a bleak future if they were to lose their current job. This may encourage managers to boost communications with staff lower down the company hierarchy in order to put their minds at ease regarding their job security.

Head of marketing at Scottish Provident Susan Barclay highlighted the importance of exploring the lifestyle benefits of savings schemes just in case the worst happens.

"The soaring cost of living, coupled with concerns about job security, will lead many to question how they will be able to pay their bills," she remarked. Research from Co-operate Financial Services showed 80 per cent of UK people to have money worries.