Employee Attitudes Affect Brand Performance

Melbourne - November 8^th 2006.  Brand performance and strategy delivery are among areas most affected by lack of employee engagement according to leading Melbourne based recruitment and Human Resource Consulting firm, 1^st Executive.  The company has today published an independent research study which has revealed that many employers are out of touch with their employees.

The 1^st Executive inaugural study on "Australians' Attitudes to Work - The Great Divide", presents some alarming findings for managers and business owners who are already facing a battle to retain their best people.

The most confronting statistic for employers in the study is that almost 90% of employers and managers believe that around 80% of their workforce will be stable for the next two years while 74% of employees said they would change jobs in that time.  Over 60% of employees believe their career paths would require them to leave their current employer.

"These statistics present major problems for managers engaged in strategy deliver and brand management.  Skills shortages and a battle for the best talent are obvious issues, but it's almost impossible for a marketer to have confidence in strategy delivery if all staff are not fully engaged." said Andrew Thoseby of 1^st Executive. "It's people that deliver strategy"  he concluded.

The report identifies a consistent thread of employees wanting to be well managed. Managers and employers know what they should do, but are not delivering, the study says.

Other major findings of the report reveal:

• Job diversity does not have a major impact on employee retention
• Challenge in a job is a significant factor in employee retention
• Almost 50% of new hires experience a failure from management to provide clear direction within days of commencing a new role.
• 89% of managers say that they conduct performance appraisals at least every twelve months yet 49% of employees have not been appraised in the 12 months.

The research study is available from 1^st Executive for $295 including GST.  Survey design and statistical analysis by Aremel Research Pty. Ltd.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Thoseby
Director
1^st Executive Pty Ltd 
http://www.1stexecutive.com.au
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P: 03 8617 8100
F: 03 8617 8199