Are employees really a key to future success?

Is it strategy? Is it logistics? Is it execution? When it comes to building a successful business there are many variables to consider. In a time when volatility and the unexpected can appear at any time, it might be a time to focus on what just may be the core of your success – your employees. In some recently published research by PwC, UKG, and LinkedIn, it reveals the current thinking and mindset of thousands of surveyed employees during these turbulent times. The following is from that published research:

  • Employees with very high senses of belonging (95%) and engagement (92%) are significantly more likely to feel heard than those with very low belonging (25%) or engagement (30%). This has a remarkable impact on the bottom line: Organizations are much more likely to perform well financially (88%) when their employees feel heard, engaged, and a sense of belonging.
  • Two in three (63%) employees feel their voice has been ignored in some way by their manager or employer, which may have a devastating impact on retention: A third (34%) of employees would rather quit or switch teams than voice their true concerns with management.
  • 61% feel that their government should act to protect jobs, with that feeling being more acute among 18-34 year-olds (66%) than those over 55 (51%).

  • 40% of workers successfully improved their digital skills during the pandemic. 77% are ready to learn new skills or completely retrain.
  • 50% of workers say they’ve faced discrimination at work, which led to them missing out on career advancement or training. 75% of respondents say they want to work for an organisation that will make a positive contribution to society.
  • If forced to choose, 54% say they’d choose to maximise income while 46% say they’d choose a job that makes a difference over more money. 57% of those between the ages of 18 and 34 would choose to maximise their income.
  • Only 9% of those who can work remotely want to go back to a traditional commute and work environment full time. 72% of respondents who can work remotely say they prefer a mixture of in-person and remote working. 19% would be happy to not return to an office at all and work entirely remotely.

-Written by Kevin Sawyer