Cost-effective employee engagement

Employee engagement is absolutely crucial during a recession, yet when HR budgets are being cut and the business landscape is becoming ever more competitive, how can HR ensure staff are engaged, motivated and loyal during a downturn? Nick Golding talks to the experts.

As the recession continues to bite, organisations are becoming increasingly reliant on HR departments to come up with strategies that encourage commitment, loyalty and motivation among workers - in other words, maintain good levels of employee engagement. Though sustaining levels of engagement at a time when there is less money to go around is no easy task, HR should be aware that dwindling morality is especially likely when the inevitable blame culture starts to creep in, says Andy Philpot, marketing director at Accor Services.

He explains: "People start to look over their shoulders, and instead of thinking about being creative in their job, they start to think about losing their jobs. When people are worried about their jobs everything becomes someone else's fault."