Employment Relations Survey highlights the need for employee engagement

A Employment Relations Survey has highlighted the need for developing or maintaining employee engagement, as 71 per cent of respondents agree there will be increased industrial action over the next 12 months.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), survey also sees 49 per cent say strike action among their staff is likely in the next 12 months.

The survey particularly highlights deteriorating employment relations in the public sector as spending cuts begin to bite. 79 per cent of public sector respondents agree employers can expect to face increasing levels of industrial action over the next year and 49 per cent say strike action among their staff is likely in the next 12 months.

In contrast, just 18 per cent of private services sector respondents anticipate employees in their organisation may take strike action in the next 12 months, as do 11 per cent of manufacturing and production organisations and five per cent of those in the non-profit sector.

The survey shows that relations between unions and management have deteriorated, with 55 per cent of employers responding to the survey describe relations between management and unions as positive, compared to 65 per cent in 2008.

The survey also found six in ten employers see developing or maintaining employee engagement as the most likely and most desirable  focus for developing positive employee relations going forward.

Ben Willmott, senior public policy adviser, CIPD, said: "The survey highlights the impact that spending cuts are having on the employment relations climate."

"However, to what extent this deterioration in relations between management and unions will result in sustained strike action by public sector workers is still open to question."

Further information:
CIPD