Dive Brief:
- A new Addison Group study found that 3 in 4 employees said they're happy at work, but nearly 8 in 10 said they're likely to leave in search of another position after just one bad day on the job. The study, What Makes Employees Head For The Hills?, also found that 81% of the 1,000 job seekers polled cited dissatisfaction with the work environment as the major reason they started looking elsewhere for work. And for 3 in 4 of the respondents, being passed over for a promotion was another reason to go job hunting.
- According to the survey, nearly half (47%) of employees feel underpaid, since many know their worth thanks to salary sites like Glassdoor. Similar numbers of employees report dissatisfaction with benefits (44%) and an unsatisfactory career path (43%).
- The report also uncovered what makes job seekers value their work and be loyal to their employer. The work an employee performs topped the list (55%), followed by salary (50%) and their immediate supervisor (39%).
Dive Insight:
Addressing attrition is especially critical in an employee-driven labor market, where even the slightest disappointment — including one bad day — can compel workers to look elsewhere for better job opportunities.
Although money isn't the sole reason for leaving a job, it remains the top motivator for starting a job search or accepting an offer. The trend in compensation is towards greater transparency, which is due in part to the proliferation of sites like Glassdoor as well as pressure to mitigate pay disparities based on race and gender. Today's workers know their monetary worth, as the Addison Group study pointed out; nearly half of employees in a recent Paychex survey have raised pay equity concerns. Therefore, employers will need to make sure their pay rates are not only fair, but also competitive if they want to to keep workers from leaving.
Other studies confirm some of the findings in this report: a bad boss, poor benefits, being passed over for a promotion and an unclear career path can drive out employees, just as meaningful work, flexible work options and a supportive work environment can help keep employees engaged and onboard. HR can step in to solve a number of these issues, particularly through bolstering training programs and improving communication.
