welt.de
German Employee Disengagement Costs Billions
A Gallup study reveals a sharp rise in German employees working to rule, reaching 78% in 2024, resulting in estimated economic losses of €113 billion to €135 billion due to decreased productivity and a record low of 9% of employees having high emotional attachment to their employer.
- What is the economic impact of the increase in "Dienst nach Vorschrift" in Germany, and how does it affect productivity?
- Dienst nach Vorschrift" (working to rule) has significantly increased in Germany, with 78% of employees now engaging in it, up from 67% in 2023. This translates to almost two million fewer engaged employees. Consequently, Gallup estimates the economic cost of reduced productivity due to disengagement between €113 billion and €135 billion.
- What are the primary factors contributing to the decrease in employee loyalty, emotional attachment, and trust in leadership in German companies?
- The rise in "Dienst nach Vorschrift" is linked to a record low of 9% of employees having high emotional attachment to their employer (down from 14% in 2023), impacting employee retention. Only half want to stay longer than a year, and just over a third want to stay longer than three years. This decreased engagement is attributed to a lack of trust in leadership and the company's financial future.
- What long-term implications does the current trend of declining employee engagement have for the German economy and workforce, and what strategies can mitigate these effects?
- The declining employee engagement points to a deeper issue of employee alienation and skepticism towards management. The positive perception of job market opportunities, despite negative economic news, further underscores the need for companies to prioritize improving leadership and fostering a motivating work environment to boost productivity and competitiveness. Failure to address this will likely exacerbate the already significant economic costs.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the decline in employee engagement and loyalty as a severe problem with significant economic consequences. The headline and introductory paragraphs emphasize the negative statistics (record low engagement, increasing "Dienst nach Vorschrift"), immediately establishing a pessimistic tone. While these statistics are valid, the framing consistently highlights the negative aspects without providing substantial counterpoints or context. This framing might unduly alarm readers and overshadow potential mitigating factors or nuances.
Language Bias
The article uses emotionally charged terms such as "eingebrochen" (collapsed), "Rekordtief" (record low), and "Absturz" (crash) to describe the decline in employee engagement and trust. This language amplifies the negative aspects and lacks neutrality. More neutral alternatives could be used, such as "decreased," "decline," or "fell." The repeated use of phrases like "inner resignation" further biases the narrative towards a negative perspective.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative trend of decreasing employee engagement and loyalty, but omits potential positive counter-narratives or examples of companies successfully fostering high employee engagement. It doesn't explore alternative perspectives on why employees might be disengaged, such as potential systemic issues beyond management style. The lack of diverse perspectives might limit the reader's ability to form a complete understanding of the issue. While space constraints might be a factor, the absence of such perspectives constitutes a significant omission.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between high engagement and "Dienst nach Vorschrift" (doing only the bare minimum). It doesn't explore the nuances of employee motivation, such as situations where employees might be disengaged but still perform adequately, or where high engagement might not directly translate to increased productivity. This oversimplification might lead readers to assume a more straightforward correlation than actually exists.
Sustainable Development Goals
The study reveals a significant decrease in employee engagement and loyalty, leading to reduced productivity and substantial economic losses. 78% of employees are now engaging in "Dienst nach Vorschrift" (working to the minimum), resulting in an estimated economic loss of €113-135 billion due to decreased productivity. This directly impacts economic growth and the quality of work.