Workers in India rate their work environment, teamwork and other aspects of their jobs more favourably than workers in other Asian-Pacific (AP) countries, according to a new WorkAsia study by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a global human capital consulting firm.

According to a company Press release issued recently, the study surveyed employee attitudes across 11 Asian markets with regard to commitment, alignment and enablement, as well as 10 related workplace factors. WorkIndia — a part of the WorkAsia study — surveyed more than 9,000 participants from 53 companies representing nine major industries.

Indian workers rate their job satisfaction, work environment and teamwork higher than any other categories measured.

Generally, Indian employees rated their companies more favorably in most categories than employees in other Asia-Pacific (AP) countries. However, India's relative rankings of the categories match the AP rankings in almost all cases. The most important findings are:

Seventyone per cent of employees surveyed are satisfied with their jobs. The same percentage also rates their employers favorably on work environment. These numbers are 8 and 11 percentage points higher, respectively, than the Asia-Pacific norms. Sixtyseven percent of workers think their employers facilitate effective teamwork between co-workers — 13 percentage points higher than the average for the region.

The survey also found that, like their Asian counterparts, Indian workers are the least satisfied with their compensation and benefits. More Indian workers (39 per cent) rate this category favourably than do workers in any other country in the region. Nonetheless, only 35 per cent feel they are paid fairly in comparison with people with comparable jobs in other companies, and 58 per cent are not pleased with their opportunities for incentive pay.

"The relatively low overall satisfaction with compensation highlights the need for Indian employers to ensure they keep up with this rapidly developing economy," says Bharwani. "Effective communication about how individual pay is determined and about companies' overall performance will become more and more important as the job market becomes more competitive."

Indian employees responded very positively when asked about their commitment, which was 20 points above the AP norm. Commitment was driven primarily by job satisfaction — which measured employees' satisfaction with their opportunities to utilize their skills, learn things on the job and do meaningful work — and leadership. Compensation and benefits and communication rated as secondary drivers of commitment.

"The high ratings for effective teamwork are very encouraging in light of the high concentration of information technology and business process outsourcing firms in the Indian economy," according to Sanjay Bharwani, Country Manager of Watson Wyatt India. "Teamwork in India is not something that is simply done to create a positive corporate culture; it is an essential business process."

India was one of five countries above the norm on alignment with more than 80 per cent of respondents indicating they understood their companies' goals and strategies and how their roles contributed to their companies' success.

Eightythree per cent of Indian workers have confidence in the long-term success of their companies. Eightyone per cent intend to stay with their current employer for at least one more year.

Seventyfour per cent of Indian employees say their work gives them a sense of personal achievement. Seventytwo per cent feel the amount of work they are required to do is reasonable. Only 54 per cent of Indian workers have a clear understanding of the career paths available to them within their organisation.

India was higher than the AP norm on enablement, with more than 70 per cent of employees agreeing they received the necessary resources and could access information quickly. — TNS