Economic Downturn Improves IT Employee Loyalty

The economic downturn has been called many things over the past couple of years but there have been very few, if any, situations where the recession was perceived as the cause of a fortuitous phenomenon. Still, it seems that anything is possible after all, now that the economic crisis has been found to have instilled a higher sense of loyalty among IT employees. In fact, according to a survey conducted between October 2009 and January 2010, some employees think that economic aggravation led to more positive management.

The survey was conducted by global workforce solutions leader Kelly Services and showed that about 27% of all IT employees, those that weren't among the thousands laid off, that is, found that, not only had management become more positive, but senior executives showed a more active communication and overall company morale was better. In London, the response was the most positive, as 34% of the respondents saw themselves as more loyal to their companies.

"Many organizations have been through an extremely difficult period but some have managed the challenges in a positive way and have emerged with a new level of trust among the workforce," said Kelly Services Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, George Corona. "Attracting employees and keeping them productively engaged is constantly among the most challenging tasks for employers. The survey shows the complex array of issues that impact and motivate employees of different ages. A multi-generational strategy is vital to attracting not only the best talent, but also to fostering a climate that encourages creativity and learning for all workers.”

"If employees feel that their company has gone that extra mile during difficult times to ensure that they are secure and happy in their role, that sense of loyalty is much more likely to be reciprocated," stated psychologist Linda Papadopoulos.

Only about 10% of the 134,000 questioned staff (of which roughly 6,000 live in the UK) saw themselves as less loyal, citing poor management and lower morale, the opposite of what the loyalists stated. The remaining 63% were indifferent.