Despite Claims US Employees Are Resistant To Return To The Office, 74% Feel Happy To Be Back
New research identifies productivity ‘disconnect’ between employers and employees
Austin, TX -- June 28th, 2022 -- Contrary to the notion that workers are resistant to come back to the office, findings from Beamery’s latest “Talent Index” reveal that three-fourths (74%) have said that returning to the office, whether full time or in a hybrid working capacity, has made them happy. However, there still seems to be a disconnect between employers and employees as to where staff are at their most productive.
The Great Productivity Divide
Of the more than 2,500 U.S. employees surveyed, 70% said that, to some degree, their employer is concerned that people are less productive when they are not in the office. Conversely, 70% of employees feel they are more or just as productive when working from home as they are in the office. Generationally, the belief that they were more productive working at home was more popular among younger respondents, especially those ages 18-34.
Talent Mobility Key to Retention
Talent mobility within an organization is becoming of utmost importance to employees with 77% saying they would stay with their current organization if they had better opportunities for internal promotion or lateral moves, or were supported with training and development to move into a new role within the business. Similarly, 58% said they would be likely to leave their current employer if the company was recruiting externally for a role that they were interested in, and they weren’t invited to apply, or weren’t considered in the application process.
Confidence Drops Amidst a Competitive Job Market
When compared to the previous edition of Beamery’s Talent Index, confidence levels in finding a new job have waned slightly, dropping from 77% to 69%, indicating that the current environment is starting to have an impact on what has been an employee driven job market. Despite this, more than half (57%) still said they would likely look for roles at other companies, even if there were a recession. For those who have either left a job, or have considered leaving their current job in the last 12 months, the top reasons for doing so include better pay (32%), no salary increases (26%), and poor management (25%).
"The hybrid landscape has, to some degree, granted space for employees to adopt best-fit working patterns,” said Abakar Saidov, Co-Founder and CEO at Beamery.
“Employers are mostly continuing with flexibility to guarantee productivity, and yet workers are still considering their next move. To continue motivating top talent at such a pivotal time, business leaders would do well to prioritize talent mobility strategies, which are clearly in demand, to reinforce that investment is still being made in training and career development - which will also improve retention rates.”
Methodology
An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 7,504 respondents from the UK, USA, and Australia, all of whom worked in an office. The research fieldwork took place on 1st June – 10th June 2022. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.