While some organisations have welcomed remote working with open arms, other employers have struggled to trust their employees to work autonomously with some even ramping up on surveillance to track exactly what their workforce is doing.
This may however be problematic for organisations looking to attract and retain talent as, according to our recent research, almost all (93%) of Britain’s workforce say having an employer that trusts them is important for their overall happiness at work. A further 83% also admit autonomy is essential, while 86% say working at a company with a strong ethical background is key, signalling some employers may need to rethink their strategies as they plan for the future.
At Culture Shift, we help lead positive change in workplace culture, through building products that empower organisations to tackle harassment and bullying. Adopting a positive, trusting, diverse and inclusive culture is at the heart of what we do.
The report also uncovered that remote working opportunities are imperative for the majority (81%) of employees across the UK, with more than half (57%) saying they would like to remain working from home, 45% dreading going back to the workplace and 47% worrying they won’t be able to adjust to going back. That said, 27% have felt imposter syndrome (self-doubt) more so while working from home.
If companies want to attract the best in the business, then they need to adapt and take note of what employees are really looking for in a workplace. The pandemic has resulted in more calls for flexible working, and different ways of approaching communication and collaboration. This has also led employees to reflect on what’s most important to them – and trust ranks higher than all other factors.As businesses continue navigating the pandemic and conversations around the future of workplace culture take precedence, employees are hoping everything from flexibility to trust, autonomy, a competitive salary and strong ethics will be at the top of the agenda.
On the variables impacting employee happiness at work, our research found that:
- 91% confirm good communication from their employer is important to them
- 91% say a competitive salary is integral
- 90% say flexibility is an important factor to their overall happiness at work
- 88% say work-life balance and the ability to plan work around family/childcare is important
- 85% say progression opportunities are key
- 81% confirm working at a company with a good CSR scheme is essential
- 64% say free perks, such as paid for breakfast, yoga classes and gym memberships are important
- 91% of employees say that working at a company with a good reputation for treating employees fairly is integral to their happiness at work
- 79% say working somewhere with a diverse workforce is important
- Almost two-thirds (64%) would like to return to the workplace with flexitime, while 69% would like to do a mix of working from the workplace and home
These are the factors that are proving increasingly important and should be front of mind for those at the top if they want to not only attract, but retain the best talent for their organisations.
To see more insights uncovered by our research or to download the full ‘Maintaining workplace culture in a rapidly changing environment’ report, click here.
