Don Phin

While we're on the subject of great places to work, let's add one more study:<br /><br />Every year, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducts an employee satisfaction survey. According to the 2007 results, the top concerns of employees are:<br />"       Compensation (59%) <br /><br />"       Benefits (59%) <br /><br />"       Job security (53%) <br /><br />"       Flexibility (52%) <br /><br />"       Communication (51%) <br /><br />"       Safety (50%) <br /><br />"       Recognition of job performance (49%) <br /><br />"       Relationship with the immediate supervisor (48%) <br /><br />"       Independence (44%)<br /><br />"       The ability to utilize skills (44%)<br /><br /><br />Interestingly, HR executives have a far different list of concerns:<br />"       Immediate relationship with the supervisors (70%) <br /><br />"       Compensation (67%) <br /><br />"       Recognition of job performance (65%) <br /><br />"       Benefits (62%) <br /><br />"       Communication (60%) <br /><br />"       Ability to use skills (49%) <br /><br />"       Career development (49%) <br /><br />"       Job security (48%) <br /><br />"       Flexibility (48%)<br /><br />"       Career advancement (46%)<br /><br /><br />Understand this: People go to work to get paid. What they remain most concerned about is getting a fair day's wage and competitive benefits. Once these factors are taken care of (which is determined by the marketplace, not by you) then concerns such as job security, flexibility, communication, recognition, and the quality of relationships kick in.<br />As we've preached for years, you might as well take a look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to determine where your caring should be focused. In fact, we've actually made his pyramid this month's Form of the Month. As a reminder, the order of needs is: <br /><br />1.       Survival <br />2.       Security <br />3.       Belonging <br />4.       Ego gratification<br />5.       Self-actualization<br /><br /><br />For example, although belonging to a strong company culture is important to many people, its value is diminished where survival and security needs aren't properly addressed. Very often what people belong to today is to their career, project, and team, with less loyalty to the company itself.<br />