Is loyalty in the workplace dead?

I have previously written about the frustration employers feel when they have to constantly repeat the rigorous application process.

Getting the right person for the right job will always be a decision that takes time – and it is time that many employers simply don’t have, particularly when the process is now happening so often.

Many experts feel that, with shortening contracts, outsourcing and automation, loyalty in the workplace is at an all-time low.  This means employers continually have to spend more time trying to find that most elusive of beings: the loyal employee.

Loyalty is, of course, a two-way street and, in the days when it was commonplace for employees to stay in the same position for 15+ years, employees would be healthily rewarded with continual employment, healthcare and a competitive pension – factors that are much harder to guarantee in today’s climate.

Meanwhile, many of today’s younger workers feel the need to regularly change positions in order to maximise their potential and ensure they are suitably motivated and engaged.

And, as detailed by Lynda Gratton in The Shift: The Future of Work is Already Here, by 2025, we will be seeing five generations in the workplace at the same time, all with different motivations.

On the other side of the coin, many ‘loyal’ employees’ performances can slide as they slip into the comfort zone having stayed in the same position for a long time.

It can be difficult adjusting the balance.

Therefore, it’s important for you to identify before employing someone, how long you want (and expect) them to stay.

Are you looking for someone for the long-term, or someone who can provide a quick fix?

LAB Profiling is one way of understanding someone’s mindset and determining whether they need regular change to maximise their performance, or whether they prefer a stable working environment and, thus, are likely to stay ‘loyal’ to your company.  After just half-an-hour, an LAB Practitioner can – by tapping-in to someone’s unconscious mind – tell you which prospective employees are more likely to remain with you, and which ones could have you repeating the exact same process just a few months down the line…

Sound interesting? Why not find out more about how LAB Profiling works.

Recrion is an established specialist in career and talent management, which works with organisations to retain and motivate their employees. For more information contact us on 01780 484910 or www.recrion.co.uk .