Significant Majority of Gen Y Says Thanks In-person Is Better than Email

Business Wire, Nov 19, 2007

Special Thanksgiving survey by Adecco USA finds that 65% of U.S. workers would like more gratitude

MELVILLE, N.Y. -- As Americans gear up for Thanksgiving this week, Adecco, the world's largest workforce solutions provider, commissioned a survey conducted by Harris Interactive([R]) to gauge whether or not American workers are getting and giving their share of thanks and appreciation in the workplace. It seems that a majority of workers aren't feeling as appreciated as they would like to be. The survey found that a majority (65%) of workers would like to receive more "thanks" and appreciation on the job.

Key findings include:

* Almost three-quarters (73%) of U.S. workers say that they give enough thanks and appreciation to their colleagues.

* It may be a digital world, but nothing replaces true gratitude - 68% of employed adults say they would rather be thanked in person than via email.

The survey also explored generational views on gratitude in the office:

* More than three-quarters (76%) of the youngest and most tech-savvy of the workforce, Generation Y (those 18-29), say that being thanked in person is better than via email.

* On the other hand, fewer (63% and 68%) of the employed Silent's and Baby Boomers, respectively, feel the same way about being thanked by email.

* Perhaps with maturity also comes a lesser need for reassurances on performance or "thank you" for a job well done:

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"Recognizing the value of your employees, even with something as simple as a 'thank you' for a job well done is an important aspect of strong employee satisfaction and retention," says Bernadette Kenny, Chief Career Officer of Adecco Group North America. "It's also one of the easiest and most cost effective things to do! It takes a few moments of managers' time. Today's savvy managers realize that an employee who feels undervalued won't stick around for long."

Kenny offers these three "golden rules" of showing appreciation at work:

* Be sincere. People have a sixth sense when it comes to sincerity. It's best to thank people when there's an opportunity to speak in-person and make eye contact to express your gratitude with utmost earnestness.

* Be specific. A simple "thank you" is nice, but employees seek feedback as well. If you can be more specific with your appreciative comments, your gratitude will have a greater impact. For example, "Susan, thanks for developing that great idea for the proposal. It's just what the client is looking for."

* Be discerning. If everyone receives the same level of gratitude all the time for everything, it can minimize the impact of your "thanks" when someone really goes the extra mile. Be discerning regarding the level of your gratitude and be sure to show it in a big way (flowers, card, gift card, etc.) when someone really does something good!

About the survey:

This Thanksgiving study was conducted online within the United States on behalf of Adecco USA between November 6 and November 8, 2007 among 2,327 U.S. adults ages 18 .

Results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, and household income. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys.

The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population.

Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

ADECCO WORLDWIDE

Adecco S.A. is a Global Fortune 500 company and the world leader in workforce solutions. The Adecco Group network connects over 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 33,000 employees and 6,600 offices in over 70 countries and territories around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

ADECCO NORTH AMERICA

Adecco is the workforce solutions leader in the United States and Canada, with a comprehensive service offering that includes temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, outplacement and career services, recruitment process outsourcing, training and consulting. In addition to its administrative, clerical and light industrial staffing services, Adecco operates the following specialty divisions: Engineering & Technical; Finance & Accounting; Information Technology; Medical & Science; Legal; Human Capital Solutions; Government Solutions; and Transportation.