The Great Resignation along with The Great Reassessment have shown us that employee needs and expectations have changed. In fact, 58% of workers say the pandemic has forced them to rethink the balance of work and life.
Traditionally, people opted to stay at their companies for decades so long as they were paid and treated well. However, this current generation of workers is not afraid to job-hop to find the perfect position for themselves. As a result, companies have to shift their focus in order to retain their best talent.
In the past, most workers sought good pay, frequent promotions and various perks such as health care benefits and pizza parties. However, today’s workers are being more selective about what they want and need from their employers.
Here’s what today’s workers are looking for when they consider where they want to work:
1. Career Feedback and Advancement
Workers value on-going performance feedback and want to clearly understand their opportunities for career advancement and growth. An annual performance review is no longer enough – employees want and desire real-time feedback.
2. Education and Development Skills
The best employees want to learn, grow and be challenged with interesting work. They want training opportunities and to find ways to continue to develop their skills and build their experience.
3. Purposeful Work
Employees want to do work that matters and makes a difference. Mission-driven companies and purposeful work that improves the lives of people and communities is something that employees desire more than they have in the past.
4. Flexibility and Control
Many believe the standard 9 to 5 workday, 5 days a week in an office is a thing of the past. The pandemic forced new ways of working that proved to be productive and improved many workers’ quality of life and now, most employees expect and demand continued flexibility.
5. Being Valued and Understood
Employees want to be recognized for their efforts and accomplishments and want to see how their contributions affect the bottom line and contribute favorably to company goals and objectives.
6. Inclusion and Belonging
Employees are more engaged and more likely to stay in their jobs when they are working with like-minded individuals and when they feel heard and included in decision making.
These niceties have become necessities in today’s tight labor market. “Gallup finds that it takes more than a 20% pay raise to lure most employees away from a manager who engages them, and next to nothing to poach most disengaged workers.”
TONE Networks has proven success coaching and mentoring early to mid-career women in the workplace. In fact, 54% of TONE members are more engaged at work and 50% of them report that they are more likely to stay with their current employer because they feel more connected and supported.
Contact us below to schedule a meeting to learn more.