What employees want most are stability and a good work culture, new study shows
By Mary Lorenz,
Forty-three percent of hiring managers and human resource professionals are concerned top workers will leave their organizations this year, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey.
The
survey of more than 3,000 hiring managers and HR professionals
nationwide also revealed that 34 percent of HR managers saw an increase
in voluntary turnover -- workers leaving companies for other
opportunities -- last year. Given these findings, it's no wonder
retention is a concern for many organizations today.
Moreover, hiring managers in information technology, financial services, manufacturing and health-care -- fields that rely on highly skilled workers -- expressed the most concern about a potential exodus.
In
addition to retention worries, the inability to fill open positions
presents another worry for hiring managers: 26 percent say they have
open positions for which they cannot find qualified candidates.
Retention, compensation among employers' biggest challengesWhen asked to name their biggest staffing challenges this year, survey participants gave the following answers:
- Being able to retain top employees -- 35 percent.
- Being able to provide competitive compensation -- 35 percent.
- Worker burnout -- 32 percent.
- Maintaining productivity levels -- 29 percent.
- Being able to provide upward mobility -- 26 percent.
- Can't find high-skilled applicants -- 24 percent.
- Don't have the budget to recruit -- 13 percent.
Beyond
salary increases, organizations can offer a broader range of perks and
benefits to meet these challenges, says Rosemary Haefner,
CareerBuilder's vice president of human resources.
Workers weigh in
More than 7,700 workers nationwide also participated in the survey, offering insights that could help employers meet these challenges. When asked what they consider most when evaluating a potential employer, workers who participated in the survey gave the following answers:
More than 7,700 workers nationwide also participated in the survey, offering insights that could help employers meet these challenges. When asked what they consider most when evaluating a potential employer, workers who participated in the survey gave the following answers:
- Longevity/stability.
- Good work culture.
- Career advancement opportunities.
- Flexible schedules.
Even
if companies provide employees with some or all of those perks, they
might not be communicating them to current and potential employees as
clearly or as frequently as they might think they are. According to a
2011 MetLife study, 55 percent of employees think their communication regarding benefits is either unclear or too infrequent.