The GfK US Employee Engagement Benchmark 2011 Survey findings recently revealed that talented and educated employees are the most stressed and therefore may be more likely to leave a company at the end of the economic recession.
The researchers reported that employees who hold PhDs are the most engaged in their careers – at about 38 percent – but that they also feel the most pressure about job security, long hours, resources and maintaining a work-life balance.
During a recession, companies have a tendency to cut corners and do not make investments in employee wellness. Authors noted that this may lead to disengagement of talented employees, who would be likely to seek job opportunities with other organizations when the recession ends.
“Engaged employees are a companies’ most valuable asset, and addressing the pressures that more educated employees face is crucial to keeping them engaged and not seeking employment elsewhere,” said Thomas Hartley, vice president of GfK Customer Loyalty and Employee Engagement.
