Source:  Tampa Bay Business Journal Online Daily

Employee morale at small businesses improved during the second quarter, according to a survey released Tuesday by TriNet Group Inc.

The company’s quarterly “HR Trends Survey” found that more than 75 percent of small business leaders felt their employees’ morale had improved or at least was steady during the quarter.  
Twenty-four percent of respondents thought morale had gone down.

“These results prove that employees are happier and more likely to stay with their companies due to the quality of their management,” Burton Goldfield, president and chief executive officer of TriNet, said in a news release. “Companies that develop the skills of their leaders boost their employment brand which then positively contributes to employee morale.”

Company culture and reputation was the biggest factor that held morale together, according to 36 percent of respondents. Other factors included flexibility, a good balance between work and life, and job security.

The survey also found that while the intent to hire had all but disappeared from late 2008, hiring was on a slight upswing over the past three months with more than 60 percent of respondents saying they were currently hiring or trying to attract talent, compared with 55 percent in the first quarter of 2009.

More than 250 small-business leaders responded to the survey. San Leandro, Calif.-based TriNet provides human resources outsourcing and consulting services to small businesses. In June, TriNet acquired Bradenton professional employer organization Gevity HR Inc. The all-cash transaction was valued around $98 million.