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Industry News

 

Survey Reveals More than Half of Employees Have Been Involuntarily Separated

Tuesday May 27, 2008

 

Philadelphia — May 27
Being displaced as a result of a downsizing or restructuring is the top reason why people have changed jobs at some point in their careers, according to an online survey conducted by Right Management, a provider of integrated human capital consulting services and solutions across the employment life cycle.

Fifty-four percent of 1,308 people who responded said they had changed jobs involuntarily due to a downsizing or restructuring. “Employee displacements have become an inescapable part of doing business,” said Douglas J. Matthews, president and chief operating officer of Right Management.

Many employees can typically expect to be impacted by an involuntary separation at least once during their careers, according to Matthews. In the current job market, employers have been making deeper cutbacks to their workforces so far in 2008, creating fewer new jobs and have indicated that hiring will be slower than in 2007.

The top reasons why people have changed jobs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, are:

• Downsizing or restructuring (54 percent).
• Sought new challenges or opportunities (30 percent).
• Due to ineffective leadership (25 percent).
• Poor relationship with manager (22 percent).
• To improve work-life balance (21 percent).
• Contributions were not valued (21 percent).
• Better compensation and benefits (18 percent).
• Better alignment of personal and organizational values (17 percent).
• Personal strengths and capabilities weren’t a good fit (16 percent).
• Company was financially unstable (13 percent).
• Company or job relocated (12 percent).

Most employees understand that they must proactively manage their careers. Matthews recommends three essentials to staying prepared and on top of your career:

1. Networking should be a constant. Recent Right Management research revealed that 42 percent of people found their new jobs through networking contacts. “New networking contacts should be made, and old ones should be nurtured. And don’t overlook the need to leverage professional, online networking sites," offered Matthews.

2. Acquire new skills and knowledge. “Education no longer ends with just the completion of formal schooling and acquiring degrees. Take responsibility for assessing your skills and developing new ones to ensure you stay relevant in a competitive environment,” said Matthews. “Building a portable skills portfolio, which employees can take with them to other organizations or industries if they want or need to, is a continuous process.”

3. Learn how to match your career strengths with an employer’s needs. Employees who have a clear sense of their strengths and can provide solutions to an employer’s problems have the best chances for success. “In a slower economy, employers also will be examining current employees more closely as candidates for promotion. Those who want to get ahead may find more opportunities with their organizations,” said Matthews.

For more info: http://www.right.com