CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING AS DEMOTIVATORS IN LARGE COMPANIES OF PRIMORJE-GORSKI KOTAR COUNTY, CROATIA

In this paper, aspects of the human resource management: motivation, career management and management of learning have been analyzed on the sample of the largest companies in Primorje-Gorski kotar (PGK) county. In this research, career management has been explored through the prism of employee motivation, while a special emphasis was given to learning, which could enable long term employability and career development of employees in their current or organizations of their future employment. The questionnaire was designed on the basis of the presented literature review and sent to a total of 20 largest companies in PGK county based on the report by the Croatian economic chamber, County chamber Rijeka. Even though the sample was small, which is its main limitation, this research pointed to several deficiencies in human resource management. Despite different expectations, the results have shown that large companies in this county dedicate only average attention to all three examined human resource management aspects. The most striking finding is the fact that managers of the surveyed companies do not frequently resort to non-material rewards that are easily available and show appreciation to employees. This fact contributes to below average satisfaction of employees with motivation programs, as expressed by managers. It is promising that the surveyed companies invest above average efforts in the introduction of new learning programs due to significant¸changes in business conditions. Weak and negative correlation among the surveyed constructs and business results points to possible deepening of current problems and gloomy forecasts regarding further development of this county. These results could further exacerbate the already devastating emigration and brain drain problem in Croatia.