A new study reminds companies doing business in Central and Eastern Europe of some common wisdom: Making sure your employees know they are valued and treating them fairly can go a long way toward a more satisfied and engaged workforce.

More than 50,000 employees from 205 companies in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria participated in Hewitt’s annual Best Employers study for Central and Eastern Europe. Study results indicate more than 70% of employees working for Top 20 employers felt that they were treated fairly by management, compared with 48% at other companies. In addition, almost 60% of Top 20 employees said they were treated like the most important asset in the company, double what workers at other companies indicated.

“Regardless of the country or the culture, the relationship between senior leaders and employees appears to be a key factor in developing an engaged workforce,” says Rita Veres, a consultant in Hewitt’s Budapest office. “Leaders who have an open door policy, are approachable, and listen to employee suggestions create a very positive environment. This, in turn, is responsible for higher business results,” explains Veres.

Companies in the IT/telecommunications industries dominated the Top 20 list, revealing this sector’s emphasis on retaining talent while remaining competitive through best practices. Microsoft in Poland ranked first in the survey, and other top technology employers included Sun Microsystems in the Czech Republic, along with Nextent Information Technologies, KÜRT Information Management, and Avaya in Hungary.

Attention to talent issues was also on the minds of the CEOs participating in the survey. Almost half indicated that people issues had the greatest influence on their ability to succeed, outranking the presence of increased competition in the market or challenging economic conditions. “Every road leads to talent management when it comes to the success of a company in this region,” notes Veres.

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