Dive Brief:
- In a recent poll, senior leaders were more likely than front-line workers to say their organization values employee involvement (71% vs. 51%), work-life balance (68% vs. 55%), and recognition (63% vs. 52%).
- Compared to front-line employees, more senior leaders also reported having sufficient opportunities for involvement in decision making (78% vs. 48%) and internal advancement (55% vs. 41%).
- With senior leaders benefiting disproportionately from available workplace programs and policies, it is no surprise that 70% say they feel valued by their employer, compared to just over half of front-line workers.
Dive Insight:
The American Psychological Association's 2015 Work and Well-Being Survey, conducted online by Harris Poll among more than 1,500 U.S. adults in January and February, showed that a serious gap exists between senior leaders and front-line workers. Closing that gap is a challenging but important task for HR leaders.
"Business leaders need to consider that their perceptions of the organization and experiences at work may be very different from those of their employees," said David W. Ballard, head of APA's Center for Organizational Excellence. "This highlights the critical importance of effective communication and involving employees in decision making."
Ballard added that when people have access to and use programs and policies that are designed to create a psychologically healthy workplace, it's a win-win for the employees and the organization. "We need to ensure that all employees—no matter where they rank in the organization—have the same opportunities available to them," he said.
