Grumpy employees make companies loose billions
How many people wake up every morning with a big smile on their face, eagerly anticipating what the coming workday will bring? Millions of people, however, drag themselves to their job and their main goal seems to be obtaining the monthly cheque. It is not a healthy situation for both the employees as well as the employers. Research has now shown that the Dutch economy suffers severely from this lack of enthusiasm. JOEP DERKSEN reports.
Last month, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), showed that Dutch employees are not the hardest working people on this planet. Far from that; they only work 450 minutes (or 7½ hours) per day. And that time is not only the period that people spend at the office or in the factory; it also includes the time spent for the household chores. The average Mexican employee will be looking at these numbers with envy. He/she spends more than ten hours per day finishing the necessary tasks laid upon him/her.
But also the employees in southern European countries such as Spain and Italy are more active than the Dutch. The hardest working – a cynic would say: longest working – persons in Europe are the Portuguese: they work 8.8 hours (or: 528 minutes) every day. On the other hand, the Dutch seem to be busier than our neighbours: the Belgians and Germans. In Belgium, people only work 427 minutes per day: with this number, they hold the European record. The Germans do it a little better with 445 minutes.
Complain
Therefore, compared to most other countries in the world, Dutch employees seem to have no reasons for complaining. But it is just that what a lot of people do; they drag themselves out of their beds, complain during the time that they are stuck in traffic jam and grumble with their co-workers next to the coffee machine. Is the computer taking a little more time processing the desired data? It’s a good opportunity to release some more terms of frustration.
This work attitude seems to cost only a few seconds or minutes. But it happens on such a broad scale, that the companies loose billions every year in work time lost. In addition, the Dutch government misses out on extra tax revenue: a lower turnover means less income, therefore a lower amount of taxes need to be paid. Insurance company Centraal Beheer Achmea and consulting company &Samhoud have researched the consequences of an inferior work mentality and the results are shocking.
Grumpy employees not only work less productive, they are also sick more often than motivated staff. The small and medium-sized companies loose six to fifteen billion euro every year. The total amount rises even to 30 billion euro when also the multination organisations are taken into consideration, according to Salem Samhoud, director of the consulting company. “We detect a considerable rise in dissatisfaction at the ICT, healthcare and government organisations.”
Cooperate
Bertwin Tiemersma, Manager Communicatie en Voorlichting at Centraal Beheer Achmea, informs that the idea for investigating this problem came up about six months ago. “We decided to cooperate: &Samhoud is specialised in the development of people and companies. We have specialists in the field of work attitude and working circumstances. We insure risks for employers and employees, in the broadest sense of the word.”
The research was not set up to promote yet another type of insurance, Tiemersma stresses. “Employers need to make the Dutch economy stronger and more competitive. Healthy and motivated employees are a vital asset to achieve this goal. Therefore, good health is of importance to both sides and health goes hand in hand with motivation and work pleasure.”
Motivated
To keep the employees motivated, the companies should communicate with their working staff member and ask them what their motivations are to show up every day. “Make people think for themselves what they want to do and what their goals are”, Tiemersma informs. “Self awareness is the key factor: ‘What do I want to achieve later in life?’ Organisations can employees, who know the answer to that question, assist in realising their goals. These labourers will ultimately help their employer obtaining better results.”
An employee who has set his own goals can also find the balance between work and private time. Tiemersma: “As an insurance company we have made a breakthrough for both the employers as well as the employees. We help them create their own identity, vision and strategy: who am I? Why do I exist? What is the reason for my being on this planet?” It seems to be a Freudian way of thinking and Tiemersma acknowledges: “A company which does not clearly know where it comes from or where it goes to, will not be able to communicate clearly with their employees. Only staff that realises why the enterprise exist and why the products or services are sold, will be enthusiastic to communicate this to the outside world.”
During a national convention on 23 June, employers can be briefed on the importance of motivated staff. For more information: www.centraalbeheer.nl/zakelijk.
Last month, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), showed that Dutch employees are not the hardest working people on this planet. Far from that; they only work 450 minutes (or 7½ hours) per day. And that time is not only the period that people spend at the office or in the factory; it also includes the time spent for the household chores. The average Mexican employee will be looking at these numbers with envy. He/she spends more than ten hours per day finishing the necessary tasks laid upon him/her.
But also the employees in southern European countries such as Spain and Italy are more active than the Dutch. The hardest working – a cynic would say: longest working – persons in Europe are the Portuguese: they work 8.8 hours (or: 528 minutes) every day. On the other hand, the Dutch seem to be busier than our neighbours: the Belgians and Germans. In Belgium, people only work 427 minutes per day: with this number, they hold the European record. The Germans do it a little better with 445 minutes.
Complain
Therefore, compared to most other countries in the world, Dutch employees seem to have no reasons for complaining. But it is just that what a lot of people do; they drag themselves out of their beds, complain during the time that they are stuck in traffic jam and grumble with their co-workers next to the coffee machine. Is the computer taking a little more time processing the desired data? It’s a good opportunity to release some more terms of frustration.
This work attitude seems to cost only a few seconds or minutes. But it happens on such a broad scale, that the companies loose billions every year in work time lost. In addition, the Dutch government misses out on extra tax revenue: a lower turnover means less income, therefore a lower amount of taxes need to be paid. Insurance company Centraal Beheer Achmea and consulting company &Samhoud have researched the consequences of an inferior work mentality and the results are shocking.
Grumpy employees not only work less productive, they are also sick more often than motivated staff. The small and medium-sized companies loose six to fifteen billion euro every year. The total amount rises even to 30 billion euro when also the multination organisations are taken into consideration, according to Salem Samhoud, director of the consulting company. “We detect a considerable rise in dissatisfaction at the ICT, healthcare and government organisations.”
Cooperate
Bertwin Tiemersma, Manager Communicatie en Voorlichting at Centraal Beheer Achmea, informs that the idea for investigating this problem came up about six months ago. “We decided to cooperate: &Samhoud is specialised in the development of people and companies. We have specialists in the field of work attitude and working circumstances. We insure risks for employers and employees, in the broadest sense of the word.”
The research was not set up to promote yet another type of insurance, Tiemersma stresses. “Employers need to make the Dutch economy stronger and more competitive. Healthy and motivated employees are a vital asset to achieve this goal. Therefore, good health is of importance to both sides and health goes hand in hand with motivation and work pleasure.”
Motivated
To keep the employees motivated, the companies should communicate with their working staff member and ask them what their motivations are to show up every day. “Make people think for themselves what they want to do and what their goals are”, Tiemersma informs. “Self awareness is the key factor: ‘What do I want to achieve later in life?’ Organisations can employees, who know the answer to that question, assist in realising their goals. These labourers will ultimately help their employer obtaining better results.”
An employee who has set his own goals can also find the balance between work and private time. Tiemersma: “As an insurance company we have made a breakthrough for both the employers as well as the employees. We help them create their own identity, vision and strategy: who am I? Why do I exist? What is the reason for my being on this planet?” It seems to be a Freudian way of thinking and Tiemersma acknowledges: “A company which does not clearly know where it comes from or where it goes to, will not be able to communicate clearly with their employees. Only staff that realises why the enterprise exist and why the products or services are sold, will be enthusiastic to communicate this to the outside world.”
During a national convention on 23 June, employers can be briefed on the importance of motivated staff. For more information: www.centraalbeheer.nl/zakelijk.
Published in "The Holland Times".
posted by Joep J.B. Derksen @ 11:35 a.m.
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