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Employees to Bosses: Listen Up

By Dennis McCafferty on 2010-07-23


Fewer workers trust senior management to make the right decisions, says ”Employees First,” a survey by HCL Technologies. Workers want more opportunities to provide input and solve problems. They believe that the rank and file wins over customers, not managers who devise grand plans. Yet many managers turn a deaf ear to employees' insights. “Leaders must recognize – particularly in the era of social media and the democratization – that the key to success and growth is getting employees to tell you what’s really going on,” says HCL CEO Vineet Nayar, author of the book Employees First, Customers Second: Turning Conventional Management Upside Down (Harvard Business Press). “As a manger, you must demonstrate that you are willing to listen and take action.” That said, many employees interviewed for the survey indicate a sense of optimism about their company’s future and ability to change. The study was conducted by Michaels Opinion Research Inc., which did more than 700 telephone interviews with adults living in the U.S.
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59 percent of workers say they often see problems at companies that management is not aware of.

87 percent of employees say they will contribute their thinking when they see ways to improve business.

One-fifth of employees say supervisors say they'll deal with problems reported but then don't actually do so.

60 percent of workers say customers are the most valued group within a company.

20 percent of employees say top management is the most valued group within a company.

Nearly half of workers say that they themselves are the least valued group within a company.

52 percent of employees believe rank-and-file are most responsible for quality service to customers.

Less than half of employees say they're committed to staying with their current companies.

55 percent of workers feel management practices must change for companies to effectively confront future challenges.

72 percent of employees are confident that top management can create an environment of transparency where all employees are aware of true business challenges.

78 percent of employees say their top management is capable of creating an environment where employee ideas/suggestions are valued.

83 percent of workers still believe their companies will emerge from the downturn as industry leaders.

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