Without question, the pandemic has dramatically changed the workplace worldwide causing employers to adjust their approach to attracting and retaining talent. The “People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View” report from ADP Research Institute (ADPRI) identifies key workforce trends that define this new labor environment.
In its annual study, ADPRI’s survey of more than 32,000 workers from 17 countries reveals a new prioritization among employees that goes beyond salary and a few perks. Today, workers are looking for a complete package that aligns with their personal values, redefines job security, prioritizes their well-being and encourages flexibility. The study’s findings, outlined below, can guide employers in their approach to deliver on what the workforce deems most important.
The importance of flexibility, values and pay equity. More than ever before, workers are putting greater importance on their personal wellbeing and life outside work. They want remote work options to help balance their lives. In fact, half of workers said they would take a pay cut to achieve better work-life balance. They are also increasingly interested in a company’s ethics and values – and ready to go elsewhere if they don’t align with their own. Workers are increasingly mobile: 71% say they have considered a major career move this year. The desire for flexibility and work-life balance are not limited to parents (74%), who like more flexible working hours, but also by 68% of non-parents. Pay equity is important: three quarters (76%) would consider looking for a new job if they discovered their company had an unfair gender pay gap or no diversity and inclusion policy.
Employees are optimistic about the future. Optimism for the outlook of the workplace, though slightly below pre-pandemic levels, is robust. Nine in 10 (90%) workers are satisfied in their current employment, although 41% say they are only “somewhat satisfied.” Workers are also expecting improved pay and career progression. More than six in 10 workers (61%) anticipate a pay raise in the next 12 months, and more than four in 10 (43%) expect a promotion. When asked to describe their levels of optimism, almost nine in 10 (88%) put themselves in the optimistic category, with responses similar across age groups and genders, North America being the only region where workers feel more optimistic today (85%) than prior to the pandemic (79%).
Salary is a priority, but it’s not all that matters. Over six out of ten (63%) workers said salary was most important. But they also want a durable career: nearly a quarter of workers (23%) said they are actively trying to change their job and/or move to a “future proof” industry where skills are in higher demand long-term, where they see the best career development prospects and strongest earning potential. Three quarters (76%) say they are prepared to ask for a salary increase if they feel it is deserved, likely driven by a number of workers who believe they are giving away the equivalent of more than a working day (8.5 hours) of unpaid overtime each week.
Stress is increasing and work is suffering. Stress at work has reached critical levels, higher than pre-pandemic. The impact on workers professionally, as well as personally is profound. Nearly seven in 10 (67%) workers say they experience stress at work at least once a week. In fact, one in seven (15%) feel stressed every day. The key sources of stress include length of the working day (28%), problems with technology (26%) and concerns over job security (25%). This stress is boiling over into job performance, as a staggering 53% believe their work is suffering because of poor mental health. Thankfully, as employers take initiative to support their workforce, seven in 10 workers (70%) admit they feel supported by their managers when it comes to mental health at work, with three quarters (75%) who say they feel supported by their colleagues.
Remote work and living arrangements: people poised to make a move. Remote and hybrid work are now an established feature of the working world, blurring the distinction between home and the workplace. This shift from the traditional 9-to-5 office-based model has long-term implications for the job market. It’s clear that having a flexible approach is essential, as there are advantages and drawbacks to both being fully remote or fully in the office.
The survey results tell this story quite clearly. Two thirds (64%) of the workforce would consider looking for a new job if they were required to return to the office full time. In fact, younger people (18-24-year-olds) are the most reluctant (71%) to return to the workplace full-time. Further, employees report that they’re prepared to make compromises if it means more flexibility or a hybrid approach to work location. More than half (52%) are willing to accept a pay cut – as much as 11% – to guarantee this arrangement.
When comparing the feelings of remote workers to in-office workers, two different pictures emerge. Those working from home are more inclined to say they are optimistic (89%) about the next five years compared to their peers (77%) working in an office. This group is also more satisfied with employment compared to those on-premise (90% versus 82%), and almost half (46%) believe working from home has made it easier to be a working parent, though a quarter (25%) say it has made it harder.
However, those working from home are more likely to feel their work suffers due to poor mental health compared to their colleagues in the workplace (55% versus 36%). Those working from home are also more prone to working longer hours, as much as an extra 8.7 hours per week.
Two years post-pandemic, workers are thinking harder than ever before about what they really want out of work and life and are reassessing, and in some cases, inverting ideas around what they are worth, what job security means and what they want from their employers. For additional findings and deeper context to the worker perspective in ADP Research Institute's report, "People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View," visit ADPRI.org.
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