Recession 'must not be allowed to undermine employee motivation'

Date: 20/03/2009

The difficult economic conditions must not force business leaders to make radical changes which risk undermining efforts of motivating employees and improving performance, one employment expert warns.

By continuing work in motivating employees, firms will maintain a competitive advantage, points out Ian Kessler, reader in employment relations at Said Business School at the University of Oxford.

In a blog post for Reuters, he suggests that firms must balance three areas - insiders and outsiders, substance and process and opportunities and strategies.

Mr Kessler warns that redundancies may be the quickest way to cut costs, but can have devastating effects on remaining workers.

He also points out that employee motivation often relates to how fairly workers feel they are being treated and states that cuts in updating employee skills should not be made.

Earlier this week, business leaders were urged to remain optimistic during the downturn in order to boost employee morale.

The Globe and Mail said this positive attitude is crucial when motivating employees.

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