The
explosion in internet recruitment sites has created a generation of job
flirts whose loyalty to their employer is quick to evaporate and who
are always on the lookout for the next career opportunity.
Despite
claiming to be engaged and content in their current position, a new
survey of over 1,000 UK employees has found that many are always on the
look out for the next opportunity and a company that can offer them a
more interesting job.
The survey, by staffing company Adecco,
found that despite the fact that eight out of 10 believe they will be
in the same job in 12 months from now, four out of 10 have nevertheless
applied for a job or registered with a recruitment agency in the past
year.
It also underlined the strong links between levels of
employer engagement and the nature of the job, the working environment
and job stability.
UK workers emerge as being savvy about what
they look for in a new working relationship and keen to find a company
that can offer them the best deal.
But more money is not
necessarily the main priority. Instead, they are overwhelmingly looking
for interesting or challenging work, with a friendly and pleasant work
environment just as important as regular pay rises.
"We are
seeing a high number of UK workers taking an 'always on the look out'
approach to job hunting. In an increasingly competitive market, UK
employees are aware that whilst they may feel content and motivated in
their current position, it is important to keep new opportunities on
the radar," said Steven Kirkpatrick, managing director of Adecco.
The
research also reveals that with six out of 10 employees using the web
to keep an eye on new opportunities, many are essentially in 'permanent
interview' mode.
"The Internet has created a new generation of 'career traders'," Steven Kirkpatrick added.
"In
the past, job hunters would be more reticent at seeking out their
perfect job match however we are now seeing a more proactive approach,
with job seekers scanning for the best deals."
So given this
high level of job seeking activity, what does the survey suggest that
businesses do to ensure that this flirting does not lead to a serial
affair and a quick divorce?
A key factor appears to be
honouring the commitments promised to prospective employees. Because
whilst workers claim to be loyal, they expect the same level of
treatment in return.
The survey reveals that organisations need
to ensure that the nature of the job remains the same, provide a
pleasant working environment and offer real job stability.
Fail
to do so and – as a separate survey by Sirota Survey Intelligence
revealed last week – employers can expect new staff to head for the
door.
Sirota's study of worker attrition rates found that
employees with less than two years of service voluntarily leave at an
average rate of about 20 per cent per year, while those with more than
two years tenure quit at an average rate of only half this.
The
Adecco research underlines why this is the case, with only a quarter of
disengaged workers saying that their employers met the commitment to
provide a pleasant working environment compared to eight out of 10 of
motivated employees who said the opposite.
"If a company works
hard to project the right profile and provide a challenging working
environment, then the company will not only be able to retain current
staff, but also attract the best prospective employees overcoming any
troublesome skill shortages," Steven Kirkpatrick said.
But he
warned that if employers do not meet these expectations, the changing
nature of the jobs market meant that they would inevitably face
retention problems.
"Today's promiscuous nature of job seeking
will cause companies serious talent loss, high staff attrition and loss
of ground in the ever increasing battle to attract the best new
recruits." |
