More than a fifth of Canadians are worried about losing their jobs in this rocky economic environment, and the anxiety is causing employees to feel much less motivated about their jobs, a national survey showed Wednesday.
Concern has traditionally been greatest in the manufacturing sector – where job losses have been steepest. But today's results show people in the business services and communication sectors, such as ad agencies and consultants, are now just as worried, according to an Ipsos Reid workplace poll of 1,128 employees conducted last month.
“Although employees tend to get accustomed to the turbulent environment in sectors deeply affected by the crisis, their level of anxiety is high,” said J.B. Aloy, who focuses on employee management and engagement for Ipsos.
The concern is even greater in organizations where layoffs have been announced, he said. Among those organizations, almost half, or 44 per cent, say they're worried.
One in five Canadians, or 21 per cent of respondents, say their motivation is decreasing as job worries grow. “Concerns about one's professional future are clearly impacting staff motivation,” Mr. Aloy said.
The results show employers have implemented cost-containment measures, the most common being hiring freezes, salary freezes, and cuts to travel budgets.
Workers in Western Canada and Ontario are fretting the most about job security, while those in Quebec are relatively less concerned.
Some hopeful signs emerged in today's survey: While 22 per cent of Canadians are fearful about losing their jobs, that's slightly less than the 24 per cent who were worried in January, the last time the survey was taken.
The most common steps employers are taking in response to the crisis, according to the survey, are:
· Hiring freeze: 27 per cent
· Salary freeze: 26 per cent
· Budget cuts for travel: 26 per cent
· Benefits cuts: 10 per cent
· Salary reductions: 8 per cent
· Mandatory vacations: 8 per cent
· 4-day work weeks: 8 per cent
