SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Employees across the country consume nearly
three hours a day worrying about their job security according to
a new national survey by Lynn Taylor Consulting, a firm that helps
companies transform managers into more productive, trustworthy leaders
through lively, research-based seminars. Bosses may be unwittingly
fueling this fear by one simple action, staying behind closed doors, as 76
percent of employees say that when faced with this scenario
unexpectedly, it triggers thoughts of being laid off.
“In today’s economic environment, employees are searching for every clue
to determine their job fate. Too often, not enough direct input is given
to employees, and so non-verbal cues are heavily relied upon,” said Lynn
Taylor, a nationally renowned expert and author on workplace issues.
“Managers working behind closed doors may be shutting out more than
noise – they may be shutting down productivity,” she added.
Commissioned by Lynn Taylor Consulting, the U.S. study was based on
telephone interviews conducted with 1,000 respondents 18 years of age or
older by a national independent research firm. The survey found that the
average employee spends 2.8 hours (168.8 minutes) a day worrying about
personal job concerns, such as company lay-offs and/or losing his or her
job.
The survey also underscores how deep-seated these suspicions are. When
asked how often they think a boss’s closed door signals lay-offs,
respondents said:
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“Changes in manager behavior, such as a closed door, more private
conferences, or less direct communication all represent potential ‘exit
signs’ to many employees,” said Taylor, author of Tame Your Terrible
Office Tyrant™ (TOT): How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and
Thrive in Your Job (John Wiley & Sons, July 2009).
Taylor added that while managers have to deal with more sensitive
personnel issues today than in previous decades, they can counter
employee concerns at a critical time with more proactive communication.
“Acknowledging the astounding impact a small gesture can have on
corporate productivity in tense times is a good first step. Providing
your team with reassurances whenever possible will mitigate unnecessary
panic and help them stay focused,” Taylor said.
“Many employees may also avoid speaking up to their bosses for fear of
being shown the door, when, in fact, their ideas might boost a company’s
bottom line at a time when that is sorely needed,” she said.
Underscoring this, added Taylor, is an earlier related study Lynn Taylor
Consulting commissioned which revealed that 70 percent of 575 adult
working professionals believe employees must be careful when “managing
up” in their boss interactions, or they could risk losing their jobs.
"Managing up" was described as “proactively finding solutions to
problems, consistently using good communications skills and modeling
positive behavior to a boss.”
“Opening your door literally and figuratively might not only mean
greater profitability. In some cases, it might also help keep the doors
of your business open,” Taylor concluded.
About Lynn Taylor Consulting
Lynn Taylor is the founder of Lynn Taylor Consulting, a management
consulting firm that advises companies on how to humanize the workplace.
A nationally recognized expert, dynamic speaker and successful author,
Taylor counsels executives on motivational, management and employment
issues. She has been quoted extensively in the media and is the author
of the forthcoming book, Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant™ (TOT); How
to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job (John Wiley
& Sons, July 2009). For more information, visit www.LynnTaylorConsulting.com
and www.TameYourTOT.com.
