Employees and managers work together to help stay afloat

Managers and staff have been working together for the greater good of the company, new research shows.

Despite the growing pressure on companies during the recession, employees have been working with managers to protect jobs and their futures.

According to research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), working hours have become more flexible and pay has been frozen, but both parties have been understanding due to the economic climate.

The survey of workplace trends with recruitment experts Harvey Nash showed almost two thirds of employers have made or are considering making significant changes to the way they organise their workforce and working patterns, in an attempt to gain new management skills.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: "This has been a particularly bruising recession, but one of its most positive and striking aspects has been the commitment of many businesses and their staff to work together to try to trim costs and save jobs."

Mr Cridland praised the UK's flexible labour market and the willingness of staff to engage positively with employees.

The UK-wide survey featured 704 respondents who employ a total of three million workers .

Recent research from Income Data Services found that there has been a dramatic increase in "negotiation rather than confrontation" between employers and staff compared with the last few downturns, reported the Daily Telegraph last week.