CHICAGO–Retail workers report their workplace morale is down while they navigate increased workloads, longer hours and strained resources during this recession, according to a new WorkinRetail.com survey of more than 290 retail employers. The survey found nearly a quarter (23 percent) rate their organization’s current employee morale as low. Additionally, 42 percent of retail workers report they have had difficulty staying motivated at work in the last year and more than a quarter (28 percent) do not feel loyal to their current employer. The survey was conducted between Aug. 20 and Sept. 9, 2009.
Workers revealed a variety of factors that may be contributing to low morale levels. Half (48 percent) said their stress level at work is high and more than half (52 percent) said their workload has increased in the last six months. A quarter (24 percent) is dissatisfied with their work/life balance.
More than two-in-five (42 percent) retail workers said they felt there was departmental favoritism at work, which could also play a part in low morale levels. Thirty percent of retail workers don’t think their department is important to senior leadership.
“Low morale can have a significant impact on worker productivity and overall store results,” said Ben Jablow, managing director of WorkinRetail.com, CareerBuilder’s retail jobs site. “As retailers enter the busy holiday season, they are using a variety of tactics to proactively manage low morale levels– including implementing more flexible scheduling, amped up communication and more bonus incentives.”
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 2,924 hiring managers and human resource professionals (employed full-time; not self-employed; non-government; with at least significant involvement in hiring decisions); and among 4,285 U.S. workers (employed full-time; not self-employed; non-government); ages 18 and over between August 20 and September 9, 2009 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on their responses to certain questions).