Poll: Employees skeptical about management actions - Executives Briefing: Strategic Intelligence - Brief Article - Panel Discussion - Statistical Data Included

HR Magazine, June, 2002 by Steve Bates

More than 20 percent of American workers say their company's senior managers don't act in a manner consistent with their words, according to a recent survey by Maritz Research, a custom marketing research firm based in Fenton, Mo. An almost identical percentage are dissatisfied with the way their organization communicates with them, and relatively few of these unhappy workers say they would strongly recommend their company's products and services to customers.

On the other hand, another 20 percent of respondents strongly agree with the assertion that "senior management's actions are consistent with their words." Nine out of 10 workers in this group would strongly recommend their company's products and services, the research firm reports.

Inconsistency between management's statements and actions "breeds employee mistrust and a lack of productivity and confidence from employees on every level," says Maritz Research official Rick Garlick. "Senior management must 'walk the talk' or suffer the consequences of their actions."

Steve Bates is senior writer for HR Magazine.