SMF | Disengaged Workers = an Uncompetitive Britain?

This event is kindly sponsored by IPA-Involve

Disengaged Workers = an Uncompetitive Britain?

Disengaged Workers = an Uncompetitive Britain? Promoting engagement for increased productivity

Date: Tuesday 30th September, 08.00 - 09.00

Location: Executive Room 2, ICC

Speakers: Ian Horton, Egg People Forum Rebecca Cogley, Head of Retention, Egg Nita Clarke, IPA

Chair: Jessica Prendergrast, SMF

Productivity is regarded by most economists as one of the key indicators of economic health alongside high and stable levels of employment and growing GDP. The UK currently has the highest employment rate (75%) of the major economies and growing levels of GDP, but our productivity remains below that of other competitors such as France and the United States. UK output per hour worked, the most commonly used measure of labour productivity, is almost 40% below that of the US. One reason commonly given for low productivity in the UK is a lack of employee engagement.

Questions for the debate:

Is the UK losing competitive advantage though disengaged and therefore unproductive workers?
Are employers taking employee engagement and satisfaction seriously?
What good practice case studies can be found and what benefits has this good practice yielded for both businesses and individual employees?
What role does workplace partnership play in increasing productivity?
What impact do poor management practices have on productivity? Is the impact measurable?
How effective are the current policy measures to promote productivity?
Is a lack of workplace skills (such as team working and communication) adding to the problem of disengaged workers?