Employee morale tops health care on list of HR challenges … really?

New data from EAP provider ComPsych shows that HR pros say employee morale and productivity are bigger challenges for them over the next six months than health care costs and reform legislation.

Anyone else dubious?

According to ComPsych, 31% of HR managers say morale and employee productivity is their top challenge, compared to the 26% who say health care costs and new legislation. Among the other responses were finding qualified candidates (16%), handling organizational change (14%) and retaining top performers (14%).

Okay, I demand a recount. Call me cynical, but I just don’t buy that HR pros think morale is the bigger challenge over the next six months— not with all the changes that are coming their way when reform compliance really starts hitting in January (which, ahem, just happens to be six months from now).

And if they truly think morale is the biggest challenge now, I don’t know where they’ve been for the last year or so.

Your thoughts? How would you rank the challenges on this list? Am I right in thinking health care would be tops? Or, is morale and productivity truly the biggest challenge you’re facing right now? You know what to do — hit the comments.