(From Business Wire) -- Workforce empowerment should be a priority for businesses if they want to retain top talent and stay competitive as the market recovers, according to a new white paper from talent management software provider Cornerstone OnDemand. "The Empowered Workforce: Crucial to Success in the New Economy" explores the notion of empowerment - what it means for employees, why it matters for the bottom line, and how organizations can leverage learning and HR strategies to foster employee empowerment.

"Closing the empowerment gap is about providing employees with the tools they need to learn and grow, encouraging them to make their own decisions and enabling them to contribute to the success of the business," said Charles Coy, Director of Product Marketing for Cornerstone OnDemand. "Empowerment also is a key driver of engagement, which can result in higher customer satisfaction, increased productivity, improved retention and a boosted bottom line."

Research from the Gallup Organization shows that companies that had higher-than-average employee engagement also had 27 percent higher profits, 50 percent higher sales and 50 percent higher customer loyalty.1

"Ultimately, every company wants employees who are engaged in their work and empowered to succeed in their roles," said Nina Ramsey, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources for Kelly Services, a leading provider of global workforce management services. "Our customers want to work with front-line people who are fully capable of meeting their needs and are committed to delivering excellent service. It's Kelly's job to prepare our employees and ensure they are equipped to make key decisions that will help create loyal customers and, in turn, impact the success and profitability of our company."

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