Now that the economy has begun to improve workers are once more considering their options when it comes to employment. In a study conducted jointly by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Halogen of almost 3,000 UK employees, it was found that almost a quarter of respondents are in the process of seeking out a role which they feel would suit them better than their current placement.
Certain sectors are more affected by this than others according to the CIPD, with 24 per cent of employees in the private and voluntary sectors searching for a new job compared to a lower 23 per cent in the public sector. This could well be due to the fact that one in four respondents claimed to have never received a performance review at work, heightening job dissatisfaction and causing employees to doubt their abilities in their current role.
In fact, job dissatisfaction plays a key role in UK employees’ desire for change, as the survey revealed that 62 per cent of respondents who did not enjoy their job were actively seeking a new role. This dropped to only 10 per cent when employees who enjoy their job were questioned about their desire for mobility.
CIPD research adviser Claire McCartney believes that the survey should act as a warning sign to employers to ensure that all members of staff are properly supported in their role.
She says; “This should signal a warning to employers to up their game when it comes to retaining key talent – if they aren’t monitoring their employees’ progression and providing opportunities to talk about career development, they may well risk losing some of their most talented workers, who might well vote with their feet and take advantage of a somewhat improved labour market outlook.
“The private sector is particularly at risk of this, where there has been a steady decline in employees’ job satisfaction.
“Now more than ever, employers need to focus on ensuring their line managers are equipped with excellent people management skills, so they can play their role in fostering open and transparent cultures where people feel they can make a valued contribution and get recognition for it.”
With employees now free to search for alternative options amidst an improved employment market, large and small companies alike may wish to start examining their business models and ensuring that the satisfaction of their staff remains a priority. After all, this will improve motivation and output as well as keeping talent in their business.
Have you considered seeking, or have you found, a different job since the economic improvements began to take hold?
