22 April 2008
Big companies have happier employees
Study disproves “small is beautiful” theory.
Employees at larger companies (those with more than 1,000 people), are generally happier about their jobs than those at smaller organizations.
A recent study of more than 31,000 employees from Canada, the US and Mexico participated in the The Beacon Group study. The firm, which provides HR advice and services, has been tracking employee satisfaction at hundreds of companies between 2002 and 2007.
'Teamwork and collaboration' and 'value, recognition and appreciation' were cited as the best advantages of large corporations over small companies.
What do they have that I don't?
"The prevailing assumption is that smaller companies can generate more employee satisfaction with smaller communities and more direct involvement," says Shannon Couch, vice president product planning & development, The Beacon Group.
The survey measured satisfaction based on key categories, including:
- management support;
- future career development;
- compensation and work environment; and
- co-workers.
Large companies scored equal or higher in every category of the survey, particularly in compensation and future career development.
"Teamwork and collaboration" and "value, recognition and appreciation" were cited as the best advantages of large corporations over small companies.
The smaller the firm, the more critical the staff
But these results may not tell the whole story. "Employees at smaller companies may feel they have greater control over their role in the organization and workplace environment," says Couch.
"This can translate into more critical scores in employee surveys, where employees at larger companies may have become complacent about their ability to shape their workplace environment".
Often people working in larger companies think the grass is greener, but smaller companies may not offer the same benefits.
Have your say
Is bigger better? Often people working in larger companies think the grass is greener, but smaller companies may not offer the same benefits. Large companies may offer better prospects, but smaller companies tend to offer more personal control and opportunity for individual input.
What do these differences mean for internal communicators? Do you think you would be more satisfied in a large, than small company – and would you pass up compensation and career development for more control in your work?
Discuss these issues with other comms practitioners by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.
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