With economists predicting fierce trading conditions and longer recovery than originally anticipated means that South African companies will need to seek out ways to sustain their business performance. After all, retrenching more people, or slashing other expenses, will mean that they will be left with skeleton resources. Or that those who remain will have no means, nor the will, to produce the necessary results.

Towers Perrin Global Workforce Study (2008) looked at 50 global companies over a one-year period, correlating their employee engagement levels with financial results. They found that companies with high employee engagement had a 19% increase in operating income and almost a 28% growth in earnings per share. Conversely, companies with low levels of engagement saw operating income drop more than 32% and earnings per share decline over 11%.  

Economists are predicting a slow economic recovery. This means managers will need to work harder to improve the performance of their teams and retain key talent.

The recent research conducted by The Human Resource Practice, into employee engagement in South Africa contained both good news and bad news for employers.

Most organisations will be placing young graduates on development / internship programmes in their organisations at the beginning of 2010. These development programmes require huge financial investments which must provide a significant return on expectations i.e. feeding the talent pipeline.

Thirty one percent of South African employees younger than 30 recently surveyed were disengaged from their jobs and undecided on their connection to their job and organisation, an employee engagement survey has found.

We (The Human Resource Practice) conducted an employee engagement survey to determine the current levels of employee engagement in South African organisations. The survey was conducted during April 2009 and 767 responses were received.

South Africa is currently in the grip of recession. Managers can't impact on the recession but can influence the extent to which employees connect to their jobs and the organisation. This connection is referred to employee engagement. Most research shows a strong relationship between employee engagement and employee performance and retention.
The Human Resource Practice conducted a local employee engagement survey to determine the current levels of employee engagement in South African organisations. Survey conducted during April 2009 and 767 responses were received.

Most research shows a strong relationship between employee engagement and performance. Engagement involves connecting with employees at an emotional, intellectual and physical level. In these turbulent economic times, organisations needs to: