After 10 months' work, the much feted MacLeod Review has concluded what the vast majority of the HR community has known for years: that employee engagement makes business sense.
Given the tough economic climate it may seem strange to some that the government has produced a report on employee engagement, when many employers are just battling to get through the recession.
But, as many commentators have pointed out, it is more vital now than ever that organisations engage with their employees in all aspects of the business. In the short-term to get through the recession; in the long-term to boost productivity and profitability.
The MacLeod Review doesn't really tell HR professionals anything they
don't already know, and lacks any concrete recommendations. But it
would have been wrong to produce a set of standards or an 'instruction
manual'.
The CIPD has thrown its weight behind the review - calling it "the best thing that has happened to HR for years" - high praise indeed. Which begs the question why the institute didn't work with the government to produce work along these lines years ago.
The risk is that the 'sponsor group', featuring the great and the good from business, unions and the public sector, becomes a talking shop without producing any practical advice for employers.
What UK plc doesn't need is another piece of work, espousing the benefits of an engaged workforce, it needs real examples of what works and how engagement can make a positive difference to the bottom line.
The CIPD has thrown its weight behind the review - calling it "the best thing that has happened to HR for years" - high praise indeed. Which begs the question why the institute didn't work with the government to produce work along these lines years ago.
The risk is that the 'sponsor group', featuring the great and the good from business, unions and the public sector, becomes a talking shop without producing any practical advice for employers.
What UK plc doesn't need is another piece of work, espousing the benefits of an engaged workforce, it needs real examples of what works and how engagement can make a positive difference to the bottom line.
Comments (2)
You make a number of good points Mike.
You may want to read my comments at http://hcglobal.blogspot.com/ regarding The MacLeod Review which strike a similar resonance.
Regards
NJH
Posted by Nicholas J Higgins | July 20, 2009 9:33 AM
Posted on July 20, 2009 09:33
Mike Hi - I personally think the report is a good thing to raise the awareness of the link (you may rightly say it's an obvious link) between engaged employees and increases in bottom-line profits.
As obvious as that link is, still many companies underplay the importance of creating an engaged workforce, and if the report raises the discussion to the boardroom, that that can only be a good thing.
That said, it is weak on actionable ideas.
For readers wanting to know what really works, I'm making available a free pdf download of my recent book (People Upgrade) which shows step-by-step what companies can do to create a more engaged and profitable workforce.
The book can be downloaded at www.employeeengagement.eu
Posted by Richard Parkes Cordock | July 21, 2009 10:45 PM
Posted on July 21, 2009 22:45