RI employee loyalty lowest in Asia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two out of three Indonesian employees say they would move to a different company even if the position, field of work and remuneration were the same as in their current company.

"This indicates a low level of commitment and loyalty that is quite significant among Indonesian employees. This low level of commitment is actually 22 percent lower than 10 other Asian countries," Watson Wyatt, a human resources consultancy, said in a study titled "WorkIndonesia 2004/2005".

The study is part of the "WorkAsia 2004/2005" study being carried out in 11 Asia-Pacific countries, and is aimed at discovering employee perceptions about various issues related to their work and employers.

According to Lilis Halim, PT Watson Wyatt Indonesia's president director, more than 8,000 respondents from 46 firms representing 14 industries in Indonesia participated in the "WorkIndonesia 200/2005" study.

Around 10 topics related to human resources were covered by the study, including remuneration and benefits, communication, employee training and advancement, job satisfaction, leadership and management effectiveness, supervision, performance management, work environment, innovation and teamwork, she said.

Besides low commitment, the remuneration and benefits category was one of the lowest scoring subject categories in both Indonesia and other Asian countries. Leadership and supervision issues scored low in Indonesia compared to its Asia Pacific neighbors.

"Indonesian employees felt they were not receiving adequate assistance with their career and professional development from their superiors, when in fact career development opportunities are one of the things that Indonesian employees most yearn for, and are most interested in," the study said.