According to a study, almost two-thirds (58%) of employees plan to leave their job in the next 12 months because their employer does not share the same values as them.
Amba’s study found that two in five employees (45%) said their current employer did not share their values and two-thirds (62%) were actively looking for an employer who shared their beliefs.
The survey of more than 1,000 workers for Amba’s Generation Gap: Understanding Gen Z Workforce Priorities in 2022 report, also found that more than two-thirds (69%) of the group felt it was important for their workplace to have high ethical standards.
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However, David Morel, CEO of Tiger Recruitment, argued that while values alignment may be somewhat of a priority, the main reason many employees consider changing roles would be to get a higher salary.
“Earning more is the number one priority for job seekers, followed by better work-life balance and opportunities to grow their careers,” Morel said. “That’s not to say they won’t consider a potential employer’s values in their decision, it’s on their wish list, but it’s not their main concern in today’s market.”
The research also suggested that young people are much more likely to consider an employer’s ethics and principles before accepting a job, with 61% of respondents citing values as the most important factor, followed by what other employees say of the company (59 percent) and the quality of its products (40 percent).
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It was found that employees see sustainability as a critical issue, with two-thirds (63%) of respondents believing companies should strive to be sustainable in everything they do.
This was prevalent among Gen Z workers, with 10% of this group leaving a previous job due to their employer’s inaction on sustainability, compared to just 3% of workers aged 55-64.
Commenting on the findings, Tobin Murphy-Coles, CEO of Amba, cautioned employers against disregarding the priorities of today’s workforce. “Our research shows that young candidates increasingly want to work for companies that do good, both for their employees and for the planet, and are willing to turn down opportunities if employers do not meet these standards,” said Murphy-Coles.
He added that businesses need to demonstrate a strong commitment to social and environmental issues if they are not to be losers in “the fight for the UK’s valuable young talent”.
Additionally, people aged 18-24 are more likely to explore the morality of a potential employer, with 71% admitting to scrutinizing a company’s ethics.
Aniela Unguresan, founder of EDGE Certified Foundation and EDGE Strategy, said careers have grown longer, which means more generations are working together, creating new complications and interactions in the workplace. It is “crucial for organizations to understand where different generations converge and where they diverge in their values, goals and expectations,” she added.
Simon Wingate, chief executive of Reed.co.uk, said company values are important because they shape our working environment, giving us the best space to learn and grow.
He added that while Gen Z workers are actively researching whether their values match those of a potential employer, thanks to Reed’s own data, traditional motivators such as salary, work-life balance and location are among the main factors determining their next career. movement.
