The keys to successful staff engagement in tough times are clear, open and honest communication at an early stage combined with a management strategy that is easily understood and draws on ideas from staff and working with staff side organisations.
In some cases, joint problem solving techniques can be used where there is a consensus.
Meeting the financial challenge at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
In 2006, the trust was facing significant financial challenges. In order to maintain activity levels and progress towards becoming a Foundation Trust, efficiency savings were needed. This case study explains how the trust worked in partnership with their staff and trade unions to achieve this. More.
Supporting employers.
NHS Employers has produced three briefing papers to support NHS organisations during the financial downturn and during the recovery.
Leading the NHS workforce through to recovery looks at the way that employers have worked through past and present challenges and adjusted their workforce and HR strategies to meet them.
Improving staff engagement - a practical toolkit provides pointers on how to get staff engagement right and offers tips that have high impact at low cost.
Talent for tough times is a practical briefing outlining what good talent management looks like and discusses why it will be important as the NHS faces the lean years ahead.
Employee engagement critical to recession survival.
David MacLeod, who was commissioned by the government to report on employee engagement said that harnessing the full potential of employees would be crucial for surviving the recession and making the most of the upturn. More.
Ministry of Defence faces up to employee engagement battle.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) conference on staff engagement in January 2010, the Ministry of Defence set out their staff engagement challenges as they deal with the pressure on defence resources. More.
Top companies show engagement despite pay freezes.
The best companies in the UK are managing to demonstrate staff engagement despite reduced or frozen pay, according to the compilers to the Best Companies accreditation list. More.
North Dorset Council keeps staff engaged despite cuts.
North Dorset Council managed to achieve high staff morale and change co-operation despite making significant cuts in its workforce. The independent peer review conducted by the Improvement and Development Agency found that staff felt both supported and happy. More.
Sustaining employee engagement during organisational change and downsize.
In May 2009, the Institute of Directors called together 65 employee engagement experts from leading European organisations including the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, Virgin, HSBC, Accenture and others to take part in a best practice and brainstorm session. The challenge was to identify leading strategies and tactics to address sustaining employee engagement during oragnisational change and also to list common pitfalls to avoid. More.
Learning from the private sector - staff engagement rises at Marks and Spencer despite job losses.
Levels of employee engagement have increased a Marks and Spencer despite recent job losses and store closures. This article from People Management looks at the work that Marks and Spencer have done around employee engagement. More.
The international perspective
This article from Business Week looks at the challenges that MGM faced in the United States to maintain their excellent employee during tough times. More.