Canadians feel relatively secure in their jobs, but many are unhappy with their career progress. That’s the finding from Ceridian Canada’s Pulse of Talent study, which surveyed 800 employed Canadians about perceived job security, confidence in leadership, expectations following a performance review, job recognition and overall career satisfaction
Of those surveyed, 31% said they’re dissatisfied with their career progression—an 8% increase from 2011. As well, 44% of respondents said they’re not satisfied or indifferent with the level of recognition they receive at work.
“This year’s Pulse of Talent reveals that Canadians have a rather high level of employee satisfaction, which is ultimately a reflection on the talent management practices of Canadian companies,” said John Cardella, executive vice-president, HR, with Ceridian Canada. “However, when it comes to motivating individuals to perform, employers need to do a better job of defining career paths and acknowledging good work. Otherwise, they risk losing their best talent.”
When it comes to employee engagement and talent management best practices, Cardella recommends clearly communicating goals and objectives so that employees have the direction they need to focus and deliver.
“They stay motivated to succeed, and employers reap the benefits of high performance and productivity.”
Praise also plays a significant part in motivating employees to achieve. “Personalized recognition—whether given privately or publicly—assures employees that good work is appreciated and reinforces the type of performance needed to drive results,” said Cardella.