New data shows employee happiness is more important than ever when it comes to keeping workers on your staff. According to a survey conducted by Jive Communications, Americans aged 18 to 34 are more likely to leave their jobs because they’re unhappy with the atmosphere of their workplace.
The survey asked approximately 2,000 millennial employees why they’d left their previous jobs. While company culture was the leading cause of quitting, up to 64% of responders reported they would quit a job if it was a challenge to take sick days. Another 37% said hour flexibility was crucial.
“The idea of what work should be has changed,” said CEO of Jive Communications John Pope to The New York Post.”Team members care about more than just a paycheck. They like a welcoming, understanding office atmosphere, and they want to work for a company that believes in them.”
Up to 70% of survey respondents also reported they preferred a workplace with up-to-date and fast technology. While some claim this preference is due to technological-dependence, Pope says it’s because fast technology is critical for productivity.
“It’s hard to get work done in a bad or inefficient environment,” said Pope, “which is why prioritizing a fun and positive office culture with effective working solutions is a must for companies in retaining and developing millennial staff.”
Millennials workers are also more likely to change jobs more frequently throughout their career in order to find just the right one. According to the Jive survey, 53% of respondents reported having worked at three or more different jobs since beginning their career. What’s more, up to 26% said they’d started looking for a new job within a year of starting a previous one.
However, this doesn’t mean work isn’t important to those of the millennial generation. Nearly 38% reported taking work calls and answering emails at home without any pressure to do so simply because they value their productivity.
Additionally, despite the fact that 96% of Americans say vacation time is important to them, millennials are less likely to take vacation time. While vacation-shaming and low budgets are part of the reason, many millennials have also stated they simply want to show their dedication to their jobs.
So what’s the best move for improving employee happiness as the American workforce moves from Generation X to Generation Y? Up to 86% of companies report using employee recognition programs to increase employee happiness. However, according to Jive, some other solutions include establishing good company culture, flexible hours, and the ability to work from home.
Pope said that, ultimately, trust is key. “We trust our employees with unlimited PTO,” said Pope, “a fun and fast-paced atmosphere, and remote opportunities when appropriate.”
