One Foot Out the Door: How to Combat the Psychological Recession That's Alienating Employees and Hurting American Business

by Judith M. Bardwick

As many as two-thirds of our employees are either actively looking for new jobs or merely going through the motions at their current jobs. Fearful and feeling vulnerable after years of watching friends get laid off, they expect the worst to happen, and they see no reason to give it their all. This phenomenon, identified by renowned author Judith M. Bardwick as "the psychological recession," can have a devastating effect on a company’s financial health. Based on extensive research showing how costly bad management really is, this eye-opening book offers concrete prescriptions for combating alarming trends such as high turnover, low productivity, and lackluster performance, including techniques * strengthening the bonds of trust and respect between managers and employees * customizing working conditions and rewards for individual employees * hiring for the "best fit" between the organization’s core culture and the personal qualities and priorities of the individual Using hard numbers and current studies that prove the direct connection between a company’s financial performance and its employees’ commitment, this book is a wake-up call to organizations desperately needing to restore the broken spirits at the heart of their companies, and enhance their bottom lines.

226 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 1905

Reviews

[Michelle]

I'm glad I read this book. It made me reflect on the good and bad experiences I've had with the multiple companies I've worked at, and it helped make sense of it all. However, at times it was frustrating, because I feel powerless in changing how big companies do business. Definitely lots of food for thought. Given that I've worked for US companies, the fact that this book was US focused didn't really matter, though some of the ideas would not quite apply.

[M Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a look into why people do not stay in their job and points primarily to issues and volatility in the economy. It has a couple great chapters about the right company and position for the individual and she proposes that HR departments provide a menu of benefits from which employees can choose which different benefits they want.

[Sheralyn Belyeu]

A very relevant book--how popular management practices damage trust and loyalty within organizations, reduce productivity and cut profits. Explains why people are making more money but feel fearful and insecure in their work.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Builds on Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey. Reading in progress but I am looking for an action plan to address this recession.