ICT staff underpaid, undervalued: APESMA

ICT employers are not doing enough to ensure their workers are kept happy and motivated, according to a survey by the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers (APESMA).

Of the total 257 respondents drawn from the APESMA membership, 88 per cent indicated they found the lack of recognition or appreciation in their organisations demotivating. While almost 65 per cent believed they had contributed to their organisation's survival during the economic downturn, 67 per cent of these people felt unrecognised for their contributions.

The respondents' contribution during the global downturn has lead to changes in their workload, with 83 per cent reporting an increase and, of these, a further 83 per cent stated they were not compensated for their efforts. Respondents said that they felt undervalued by their employer despite their contributions, with over half believing that their employer views them as a cost that could be cut without impacting the organisation.

"It is an indictment on the industry that while 88 per cent of ICT workers said they were largely motivated by their remuneration package, over 40 per cent of those in the private sector didn't have any kind of salary review last year," APESMA CEO Chris Walton said.

However, monetary compensation was not the only demotivating factors for respondents. Eighty five per cent of respondents said that poor or incompetent management and leadership were demotivating influences in their workplace. Additionally, 80 per cent stated that management did not listen to ICT staff about what could be reasonably achieved with existing staff levels.

The full report, titled At the Crossroads: Barriers to Rebuilding ICT capability post-GFC (PDF), is available online.