Two-thirds of Canadians are prepared to leave their employer
[The majority of Canadians are prepared to walk out the door if they had a better employment opportunity come along.]
Two-thirds of Canadians are ready to leave their jobs today should an opportunity arise with a higher salary or better work-life balance, according to the latest
study
by human resources and payroll services giant ADP.
“Any given day a portion of the workforce is going to be looking for greener pastures, I think that’s human nature, but we were a little surprised it was over 60 per cent,” said Elizabeth Williams, director of brand and communications for ADP.
Of the more than 1,500 Canadians surveyed, 33 per cent say they don’t feel much loyalty to their employer, while 16 per cent say they are actively working for a new role. Another 16 per cent say they’re “casually” looking for a new role.
“Most people would tell you ‘if the right thing came along, well of course’ but I think the thing surprised us was that 32 per cent of the full workforce is actively or somewhat actively looking for a new role,” says Williams.
According to the survey, the majority (66 per cent) of those looking to try out something new cited compensation as a major driving force in their top two reasons for making a move while 56 per cent put elements like better work/life balance, fewer hours, less stress and shorter commutes or better locations as the reasons for considering ditching their current job.
“Workers increasingly are looking for meaning in their work and they’re less interested in climbing a corporate ladder than they are in doing work that matters to them or the feel is making a difference to the world around them,” she says.
Williams points out that while ADP expected millennials to lead the charge with the exodus, Canadians are considering making a change much later in life than they previously might have.
“We also found the next generation up, people in that 35 to 44 cohort who you would think are getting a bit more senior – they’ve got some financial pressures and are maybe not inclined to take a risk – are right there with the millennials saying ‘heck yes, if the right offer came along we’d jump.’ ”
About four in ten employees in the 18 to 34 year old age group say they’d leave their jobs for something better compared to 32 per cent in the 35 to 44 year old bracket. The 45 to 54 year old age group was closer to one in five. Only seven per cent in the 55 to 64 category are considering a move.
While its easy for employees to push their disdain for their job on their employers, Williams points out that it is a two-way conversation, employees need to be open with their employers and tell them exactly what they’re looking for in their job.
“I cant think of an employer who wouldn’t want to have an employee standing in their doorway saying give me more meaning, let me make a difference, let me really dig in on something – that’s the inspired workplace that most of us really dream of working in and many of us would jump ship to find,” she adds. “Make that known by asking for the opportunity to strive – the worst that happens is they say no.”