Dive Brief:
- Gallup released its annual State of the American Workplace report, which found that 51% of workers are ready to leave their current jobs. The report, which polled 195,600 U.S. employees, is created to help employers “maximize their attraction, retention, engagement and performance strategies in a time of extraordinary change,” says Gallup.
- The report also found that Americans feel more positive about the job market than they did in 2012. They also think companies are more likely to hire than fire workers, making now a good time to look for a better job.
- In a summary of the findings, Gallup pollsters said that while employers are building their customer brand, they’re overlooking their employee brand. They conclude that employers must develop authentic, compelling employee brands to attract and retain talent.
Dive Insight:
The Gallup study confirms other studies’ findings on employees discontent with their own organizations. The challenge for employers is preventing a mass exodus of their most highly skilled workers.
Gallup’s conclusion that employers might need to become more employee-focused to retain workers is correct, given the survey results. Yet, job hopping is an increasingly acceptable form of career planning in today's HR world. It's important to recognize the opportunities this model presents for employers aside from the risks.
Employers can find the Gallup report useful in planning strategies for not only hiring and retaining staff, but also for more fully engaging them.
