Are you worried about losing your job? You’re not alone. Fears about job security are rife even among employees within the Best Companies to Work For. Many feel on edge as a result of the current global downturn, which has already led to a dramatic rise in unemployment and seen household names such as Woolworths disappear from the UK high street.

Among all 997 companies entering this year’s Best Companies contests, staff scores for feeling their jobs are secure are down 6.2% on last year, from 72.5% positive to 66.3%.

The top two big companies and the top 10 mid-sized businesses show a significant fall of 5.3%, although with the positive score for job security still at 78.1% this represents a much healthier bottom line than the 66.3% achieved across all 997 companies. Among the 120 companies included in this magazine there is a 5.5% fall in the positive score for job security to 71.5%.

At the same time there has been a small rise in stress and pressure among staff in all organisations. There is also a small rise in the number of employees who feel they spend too much time at work — the positive score here declining 2.8% year-on-year to 58.3% — and a growing feeling among staff that they are being told things rather than listened to. Scores for personal growth and feeling excited about the future of the organisation are slightly down too.

The good news, however, is that none of this has translated into lower levels of employee engagement, which remain steady at 71%. Workers are still as committed and motivated as they were and some even more so.

“Although people are worried about job security they are not blaming their company for it,” says Dr Pete Bradon, head of research at Best Companies Ltd. “People seem to realise there is not a great deal their employer can do about the global economic climate.

“The interesting thing is that at the same time we see an increase in pressure and stress-related symptoms. People don’t just get stressed by the amount of work they have to do, but also by wider issues such as whether they can pay the mortgage and will they have a job next year.

“What we are seeing in engagement staying the same is people being responsible. They realise their job might not be secure, but they continue to be as engaged with the company and are prepared to work a little harder. It is possible in firms where the leadership has taken everybody with them that people actually get more engaged.

“There will be winners and losers and, five years from now, the top 100 lists will be dominated by companies which have not just maintained but improved their employee engagement in difficult times.”

Dozens of companies are already managing to achieve this feat. Of the 139 organisations that featured in last year’s Best Companies to Work For lists as well as this, staff in 116 of them report lower levels of job security. Yet of these 116, 62 report higher levels of employee engagement.

Bourne Leisure is typical. The firm, which runs Butlins, Haven Holidays and Warner Leisure Hotels, jumped from 15th place to second in this year’s big list. While employees record a 1.1% decline in their positive score for job security, they remain happy campers, evidenced by the rise in their score for engagement of 3.8%.

“We have been very open and honest with team members about the economic situation and what the possible effects are on our business,” says Ruth Shepherd, human resources team member. “We have communicated our hopes for the 2009 season and have shown team members how the climate presents us with opportunities to ensure the success of our business in the long-term.”

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