February 4, 2011
Two shock stories in the national press today highlight the push-me-pull-you nature of management in these straitened times.First there was the CIPD survey, which revealed that a third of workers are concerned they might lose their jobs and that managers need to show true leadership to overcome this level of demotivation.
Apparently, staff are working like a donkey by working longer hours to ensure they don't lose their jobs, then getting ill because they are working too long, then taking time off thus affecting their performance, thereby putting themselves in line for the old heave ho, on account of not being around much to even be inefficient.
Senior employment adviser at the CIPD, 'Little' Ben Willmott says that "Employers need to find cost-effective ways of equipping their line managers with the people management skills to support employee engagement and wellbeing."
Which is handy, because another survey has also made the link between staff working longer hours, taking more time off sick and generally not performing very well, due to the government's austerity measures. Crucially though, this survey also points out that employee unrest will grow if the situation is not controlled in some way. Now that could be serious as it might lead to union involvement - a red flag for management if ever there was one, and one that might necessitate actually talking to the animals, as it were.
So, to avoid such potentially lengthy meetings with the Marxist throwbacks should managers take their staff aside and explain in soothing terms that they need not worry about their jobs, as the organisation is surely doing all it can to avoid any job losses - perhaps lowering the lighting and supplying large quantities of wine and biscuits to ease their worries?
Yours Truly suggests not, and advocates that managers simply wait to see who takes most time off sick before giving them their marching orders - thereby killing two metaphorical birds with one stone, as anyone left will be seriously motivated to perform better due to being so grateful for keeping their job.
There would also be the added attraction that managers will be celebrated for their clear-sighted cost-cutting measures (ie, losing all those apparently unnecessary salaries) and will no doubt be in line for some kind of bonus. A trip to see Dr Doolittle perhaps - the Rex Harrison version, of course.
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