Just over half of small to medium sized employer (SME) senior decision makers (51%) have a positive view of their organisation employing members of the Reserve Forces, according to a survey conducted for SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers).
The current research, conducted by YouGov with 631 SME senior decision makers from the private sector, found that 11% of respondents would be keen for their organisation to employ a Reservist, while 39% would have no problem with their organisation employing them. The poll also found that 19% said they would have some concerns but only 4% said they would be opposed to the idea.
In contrast, a previous 2008 SaBRE survey with SME decision makers from the private sector who have a responsibility to recruit employees for their business with up to 249 employees found 63% of respondents ‘would be happy for their organisation to employ Reservists’.
The difference in the more recent survey could be due to the financial crisis, as 88% of respondents who had some concerns in the current survey cited practical reasons rather than moral reasons for their opinion.
Despite this, a majority of survey respondents listed several skills they felt Reservists bring to the workplace, including:
- An ability to work well in a team (64%)
- An ability to respond well to pressure and difficult situations (54%)
- Willingness to take responsibility (52%)
- Reliability (51%)
- Being organised and efficient (51%)
The survey results are important because of the Government’s plans to increase the size of the Reserve Forces by up to 50% - one of the main recommendations from the Future Reserves Review 2020 (FR20), published in July. Government is aware that employers need to be brought on board for any increases to be successful and they are therefore conducting extensive research through SaBRE to gauge employers’ views on the proposals in FR20.
Tim Corry, SaBRE Campaign Director, comments, “While many organisations are struggling during the financial crisis, SMEs have been hit especially hard. Government is aware of this and is listening to their concerns.
The extensive research SaBRE will be conducting with employers in the coming months will delve into the exact issues businesses are facing and the results will then be fed back to the Government to help inform their future planning.
It’s good to see SME employers recognise the vital skills Reservists can bring back the workplace but it is obvious many SMEs continue to struggle during the financial crisis and this is affecting their support. With Remembrance Day upon us once again it would be good to remember the sacrifices Reservists have made alongside their regular counterparts, and we hope Reservists could be provided with as much support as possible by their civilian employers."
Notes:
All 2011 figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 631 decision makers from small and medium sized businesses (up to 249 employees). Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 21st October 2011. The survey was carried out online.
Results from another survey from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 838 decision makers from small and medium businesses of which 234 had employment responsibilities, working in the private sector. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 10th April 2008. The survey was carried out online.