Modern tools to increase employees’ motivation and productivity in the era of financial crisis; case study of Greek public sector.

Abstract

The human factor is of paramount importance for the growth of any organization regardless of internal or external factors, i.e., social, economic, political. Human Resource Management (HRM) is an integral part of any organization which contributes to a great extent to the prosperity of the organization. Undoubtedly, employee motivation plays a crucial role towards the development of the industry, and this is the reason why firms need to guarantee that their employees are satisfied by implementing various HR policies. Nonetheless and due to the constant changing circumstances, which include the financial crisis and the pandemic of COVID-19, governments and organizations had to change their strategies and adjust to the new reality but at the same time guarantee that the personnel shall remain committed and engaged. Greece has been in the middle of the ongoing financial crisis since November 2009. The escape plan from this severe situation included specific reforms that the Greek Administration had to implement and harsh austerity measures to impose. Throughout this thesis, we have encountered the way Greece tried to correspond to this unprecedented situation and the relevant results based on literature review, data and surveys already conducted. The thesis is divided into three parts, the first deals with the theoretical framework of Human Resources Management, the second covers the wide concept of motivation theoretically and the third and last part provides the readers a more profound insight into the global recession, its causes, its effects worldwide and more particularly not only how it affected the Greek financial status and its Human Resources but also how Greece and its public sector affronted this severe crisis.