Employee engagement surveys are a powerful tool for assessing your employees' level of commitment to your organization and their satisfaction with your workplace. As you battle to survive in this tough economy, hoping to position yourself for the recovery, a dedicated and focused workforce is essential to your success. Unfortunately, there is ample evidence that widespread layoffs, demands to do more with less, and cutbacks in wages, benefits and hours have beaten workers down and strained any loyalty that existed.

Fortunately, things can be turned around. Employee engagement surveys can provide you a quick and accurate assessment of your workforce. Armed with that information, you can make the strategic decisions required to refocus your employees. Study after study shows that organizations with an engaged workforce enjoy higher levels of customer satisfaction; increased productivity; lower absenteeism and higher retention; and reduced workers' compensation costs. Put plans in place now to survey your workforce soon.

The unions continue to push the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill would eliminate the need for union drives, granting unions a quick win by simply getting 50% of your workforce to sign a union card. it would also fast-track negotiations of the first contract, putting your company at an unfair advantage.

The bill is currently tied up in Congressional committee, but Democrats have vowed to move it forward and the President has promised that he will sign it into law. If the bill passes, and most expect it will, any unprepared companies will find themselves with an unwanted union.

As I have recommended in previous issues of the Dacri Report, take proper steps now to protect your organization. Train your supervisors in the do's and don'ts of unionization; communicate your position on unions to your workers; and find out whether your workers are open to the union's pitch of job security, better pay, and fairness for all. The best way to assess whether your employees are vulnerable is through an employee engagement survey. In fact, the survey I offer has an index in it to measure your risk of unionization.

Take the steps now to protect your organization from a costly union takeover. To learn more about what you need to do, call me at 207-967-0837.

This guide will provide you valuable information on cost-cutting ideas; preparing managers and employees for the tough times; cost and legal implications of layoffs; and strategies to keep your workforce focused. Call me at 207-967- 0837 to get your free copy.

If you are faced with laying off your employees, I can help you. If you're concerned about the trauma of layoffs on your workers and their families; the impact on your remaining workforce; and your vulnerability to lawsuits from angry laid off workers, then I can help by providing Outplacement Assistance. My outplacement program will provide your displaced workers with the tools and the skills needed to quickly find new jobs. The result will be that each individual will find new employment; your company's remaining workforce will see that you care about all your employees; and there will be minimal negative impact on you and your organization from these layoffs.

Call me today at 207-967- 0837 to learn how Outplacement can help you and your organization.

I will be speaking before the following groups in May and June:

Maine HR Convention on May 14: the topic: Succession Planning: Refilling the Pipeline. Find complete details about "The HR Kaleidoscope Convention" at www.mainehr.com/convention

Northeast Public Power Association May 28: the topic will be Sexual Harassment Prevention: Everything You Need To Train Your Entire Staff. To register, visit www.neppa.org

Maine Health Care Leadership Symposium on June 3: the topic will be Adding Value and Improving Productivity: Where Less is More. To register, contact MEHCA at 207-623-1146.

To book me for your next event, call 207-967-0837 or visit www.dacri.com.