Employee benefits are great to have, which is why there's no denying that quality health insurance serves as a major selling point when you're looking for a good job. At the same time, though, sometimes you just know when a company isn't the right match, where even the best benefits in the world can't make up for the drudgery of yet another 9 to 5 workday.
Fortunately, employees are getting the best of both worlds, as a new survey indicates satisfaction is at its highest level in years.
Nearly 90 percent of full- and part-time workers are happy with their current employer, according to a recent poll conducted by the Society for Human Resources Management. That's the highest rate in the last decade.
Roughly 600 randomly selected individuals took part in the poll, which was conducted in November and December of last year. The participants included those who worked 40 hours per week as well as those who worked on a part-time basis.
Employees say they feel respected
Several factors were used to assess respondents' contentment, including career development, relationships with management, compensation as well as employee benefits, among over two dozen other measurements. Where workers were especially satisfied was in the respect category. Nearly 70 percent said they felt like they were given the proper level of courtesy from their fellow employees, both from their peers as well as their overseers, the SHRM survey revealed. Other areas where a majority was satisfied included salary, overall benefits, trust in senior management as well as job security.
Just as employees have to feel confident and happy with their current position to stay on board, employers have to be similarly sanguine. When the wrong hire is made, it doesn't take long for the unintended consequences to show up.
Nearly 70 percent of small business owners say the worst aspect of a poor recruitment decision is the reputation-related fallout the company can suffer, based on a separate survey conducted by employment website Monster Worldwide. Approximately 62 percent said reduced productivity was the worst side effect.
"We've heard loud and clear that small business owners struggle to find the right person for the job, and as a result, have made the wrong hiring decision on more than one occasion," said Meredith Hanrahan, senior vice president of small business solutions at Monster.
Most employers realize bad choice within weeks of hire
It doesn't have to take more than a month to realize that the wrong move was made, either, even though letting time pass may be recommended before jumping to any conclusions. Seventy percent of small business owners say they became aware of the bad decision within the first three weeks of the hire, Monster found.
This is yet another reason why a comprehensive interview is extremely important. Human resources experts say that while a successful interview may not ensure long-term success and mutual satisfaction, asking a variety of situational questions can enable both the prospective hire and employer to better establish whether a position is the right match for all parties involved. Getting in touch with references is also highly recommended.
