Boosting Employee Productivity

Via Business Week

How companies can deploy managers to fight waning employee productivity

By The Staff of the Corporate Executive Board

The magnitude of the economic downturn for mid-sized organizations has been significant. Profits are down, workforces are shrinking, and employee engagement levels are tanking. According to new research by the Corporate Executive Board (CEB), there has been a substantial decline in employee engagement, resulting in as much as a 5% reduction in employee productivity.

In a survey of more than 140 organizations, the HR Leadership Council, a CEB program for HR professionals at mid-sized organizations, found that mid-sized companies are undertaking typical cost-cutting measures. However, while most organizations might concur that lay-offs, hiring freezes, and reduction in compensation are the right ways to manage costs in a down economy, they may also be underutilizing the very thing that can successfully combat the waning productivity and disengagement that typically accompanies the state of "survivor syndrome" among remaining employees: the actions and influence of managers.

Maximize Manager Impact While in Cost-Cutting Mode:

#1: Communicate compensation changes through managers, not HR
#2: Task managers with spearheading low-cost reward and recognition programs
#3: Don't hold on to dead wood—trade up on talent
#4: Fight declining productivity with performance management compliance

The Corporate Executive Board (EXBD) drives faster, more effective decision-making among the world's leading executives and business professionals. Powered by a member network that spans over 50 countries and represents more than 80% of the world's Fortune 500 companies, the Corporate Executive Board offers the unique research insights along with an integrated suite of members-only tools and resources that enable the world's most successful organizations to deliver superior business outcomes.

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