New Survey Reveals Employees Spend Nearly Three Hours a Day Worrying about Job Security

76 Percent of Employees Get Jitters When Seeing Closed Boss`s Doors
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Employees across the country consume nearly three hours a day worrying about
their job security according to a new national survey by Lynn Taylor Consulting,
a firm that helps companies transform managers into more productive, trustworthy
leaders through lively, research-based seminars. Bosses may be unwittingly
fueling this fear by one simple action, staying behind closed doors, as 76
percent of employees say that when faced with this scenario unexpectedly, it
triggers thoughts of being laid off.

"In today`s economic environment, employees are searching for every clue to
determine their job fate. Too often, not enough direct input is given to
employees, and so non-verbal cues are heavily relied upon," said Lynn Taylor, a
nationally renowned expert and author on workplace issues. "Managers working
behind closed doors may be shutting out more than noise - they may be shutting
down productivity," she added.

Commissioned by Lynn Taylor Consulting, the U.S. study was based on telephone
interviews conducted with 1,000 respondents 18 years of age or older by a
national independent research firm. The survey found that the average employee
spends 2.8 hours (168.8 minutes) a day worrying about personal job concerns,
such as company lay-offs and/or losing his or her job.

The survey also underscores how deep-seated these suspicions are. When asked how
often they think a boss`s closed door signals lay-offs, respondents said:

Always 11 %
Often 32 %
Sometimes 33 %
Rarely 15 %
Never/Don`t Know 9 %
__________
100 %

"Changes in manager behavior, such as a closed door, more private conferences,
or less direct communication all represent potential `exit signs` to many
employees," said Taylor, author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT): How
to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job (John Wiley & Sons, July
2009).

Taylor added that while managers have to deal with more sensitive personnel
issues today than in previous decades, they can counter employee concerns at a
critical time with more proactive communication.

"Acknowledging the astounding impact a small gesture can have on corporate
productivity in tense times is a good first step. Providing your team with
reassurances whenever possible will mitigate unnecessary panic and help them
stay focused," Taylor said.

"Many employees may also avoid speaking up to their bosses for fear of being
shown the door, when, in fact, their ideas might boost a company`s bottom line
at a time when that is sorely needed," she said.

Underscoring this, added Taylor, is an earlier related study Lynn Taylor
Consulting commissioned which revealed that 70 percent of 575 adult working
professionals believe employees must be careful when "managing up" in their boss
interactions, or they could risk losing their jobs. "Managing up" was described
as "proactively finding solutions to problems, consistently using good
communications skills and modeling positive behavior to a boss."

"Opening your door literally and figuratively might not only mean greater
profitability. In some cases, it might also help keep the doors of your business
open," Taylor concluded.

About Lynn Taylor Consulting

Lynn Taylor is the founder of Lynn Taylor Consulting, a management consulting
firm that advises companies on how to humanize the workplace. A nationally
recognized expert, dynamic speaker and successful author, Taylor counsels
executives on motivational, management and employment issues. She has been
quoted extensively in the media and is the author of the forthcoming book, Tame
Your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT); How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and
Thrive in Your Job (John Wiley & Sons, July 2009). For more information, visit
www.LynnTaylorConsulting.com and www.TameYourTOT.com.

Burson-Marsteller for Lynn Taylor Consulting
Victoria Rangel
310-309-6623
victoria.rangel@bm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009