Bosses can't see discontent

The EPMU's Andrew Little says that in the recession, managers often take the attitude that staff should be happy to have a job at all. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Bosses on both sides of the Tasman could be underestimating worker discontent in the recession, new research suggests.

A survey by recruitment specialists Hudson found 44 per cent of 2394 employees believed staff morale had fallen, compared with 26 per cent of the 247 employers polled.

The study - conducted in Australia and New Zealand - was part of the Hudson 20:20 Series report Talent Tightrope: Managing the Workplace through the Downturn.

Hudson NZ executive general Marc Burrage said the results showed the widely differing perceptions of workers and employers.

"In every aspect of current workplace sentiment, whether job satisfaction, motivation, morale, perceived stress levels or job security, employers are clearly unaware of their employees' frame of mind."

Employment experts said there was always a "disconnection" between employer and employee perceptions.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said the differences in outlook between workers and bosses were obvious in the recession.

"I talk to members and then I talk to their employer and it's as if you're in two parallel universes."

In the recession, managers often took the attitude that staff should be happy to have a job at all, he said.

This was evident in the survey, with 32 per cent of respondents agreeing "management thinks it doesn't have to reward and recognise our work because we should feel lucky to have a job now".

Mr Little said it all came down to communication.

"Recession or no recession, if managers are keen to do their job and stay in touch with employees they need good dialogue."

Employers and Manufacturers' Association chief executive Alisdair Thompson agreed, saying his staff were warned about recession cutbacks in advance.

"I had a meeting four months ago as the recession was biting and explained our position honestly and openly to everybody."

Mr Thompson said he had to tell staff they would not be receiving their full bonus.

"I levelled with them, I gave them the whole story.

"The whole room clapped ... several people made comments to me, like 'I've never seen staff react with joy when told [they are] not going to get a pay rise'."

Mr Thompson said the survey was "a wake-up to leaders", who had to be honest, transparent and trustworthy.

* Key findings

32 per cent of workers insecure in their jobs.

54 per cent say workplace far more stressful since recession.

47 per cent of workers seeking new jobs.

64 per cent of Auckland workers had high stress levels and 50 per cent in Wellington.

35 per cent of firms have sacked workers.