Motivate staff 'by looking at their needs'

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Firms can increase the effectiveness of their

employee motivation strategies by tailoring their approach to different groups of workers, it has been suggested.Employee retention expert Dawn McCooey wrote in Furniture World Magazine that the modern workforce includes staff from a range of social, generational and cultural backgrounds, but can be broken down into four main groups.

Ms McCooey claimed that 'traditionalists' have built up years of experience in the industry and are often incredibly loyal to an employer, adding: "This group prefers hierarchal organisational structure and favours straightforward and logical communication."

She also suggested that 'boomers', who have a strong work ethic, tend to be motivated by a sense of personal satisfaction in their careers, while workers from the self-reliant and flexible 'generation X' are responsive to change.

In addition, Ms McCooey pointed out that the core values of 'generation Y' are success and diversity, while workers in this group are best motivated by team rewards.

Recent research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed that 41 per cent of firms now have some form of staff recognition initiative, such as an employee of the month award.

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