Workers’ Most Desired Perk Is Flexible Schedule
CHICAGO -- If you could have one perk -- any perk -- in your workplace, what would it be? Fully 59% of respondents to a recent CareerBuilder survey said a flexible schedule is most important.
Some 32% reported that top performers left their organizations last year and 39% are concerned that they'll lose top talent in 2013. There may be cause for concern; while 66% of workers said they are generally satisfied with their jobs, 25% said they will change jobs in 2013 or 2014.
Upward mobility is a key factor in job satisfaction and employee retention, but having a certain title isn't important to 55% of workers. The vast majority (88%) reported that salary matters more. Other factors that outrank job title in what is most important to workers are:
- Flexible schedule (59%).
- Being able to make a difference (48%).
- Challenging work (35%).
- Ability to work from home (33%).
- Academic reimbursement (18%).
- Having an office (17%).
- Company car (14%)
Some 26% of workers said that providing special perks is an effective way to improve employee retention. When asked to identify one perk that would make their workplace more satisfying, 40% picked half-day Fridays, 20% want an onsite fitness center and 18% want permission to wear jeans to work. These were followed by daily catered lunches (17%), massages (16%), a nap room (12%), rides to and from work (12%), snack carts that come around the office (8%), a private restroom (7%) and onsite daycare (6%).
Not surprising, 70% workers reported that increasing salaries is the best way to boost employee retention, while 58% pointed to better benefits. Among other actions workers said employers should take to reduce voluntary turnover:
- Provide flexible schedules, 51%.
- Increase employee recognition (awards, cash prizes, company trips), 50%.
- Ask employees what they want and put feedback into action, 48%.
- Increase training and learning opportunities, 35%.
- Hire additional workers to ease workloads, 22%.
- Provide academic tuition reimbursement, 22%.
- Carve out specific career paths and promote more. 21%.
- Institute a more casual dress code, 14%.
"What determines job satisfaction is not a one-size-fits-all, but flexibility, recognition, the ability to make a difference and, yes, even special perks, can go a long way," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Being compensated well will always be a top consideration, but we're seeing work-life balance, telecommuting options and learning opportunities outweigh other job factors when an employee decides whether to stay with an organization.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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