Here’s a case of two different surveys melding together nicely: One indicates that nearly two-thirds of employers expect staffers to work more hours than they did before the recession. And another says employee turnover is expected to increase significantly over the next five years.
Research from HR consultancy Towers Watson said not only do most employers expect employees to put in additional time at work, employers expect the practice to continue into the foreseeable future.
Another poll, this one from Right Management, said that 59% of American companies think they’ll be seeing increased turnover in the next several years.
The Towers Watson poll said the longer hours may be taking a toll: “Respondents are concerned about the impact that organizational changes they made in response to the recession are having in areas such as employees’ work/life balance, productivity and willingness to take risks,” the company said in a press release.
To address those concerns, most companies have already made or are planning to make additional changes to their reward and talent management programs, the survey said.
Hardest positions to fill
On the hiring front, Towers Watson said most U.S. companies are finding it relatively easy to attract or retain workers, with one major exception: critical-skill employees.
According to the survey, nearly six out of 10 U.S. companies (59%) reported problems attracting critical-skill employees this year. That is an increase from 52% last year and 28% in 2009. Forty-two percent also reported difficulty attracting top-performing employees.
Additionally, more than one-third (36%) reported difficulty retaining critical-skill employees, an increase from 31% last year and 16% in 2009. Overall, only one in 10 companies is having difficulty attracting or retaining employees generally.
