Whether we call it The Great Resignation, The Great Shuffle or The Great Re-Evaluation — they all have something in common. Younger workers, wherever they may be based, simply aren’t happy. According to a recent Personio and Opinium survey of 250 senior decision-makers and 1,000 workers in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in small and medium-sized companies across several industries nearly half plans on quitting their job in the next 12 months.
It’s about praise and recognition
Meanwhile, younger workers aren’t just going to quit their jobs. There is a much deeper, underlying sentiment regarding praise and acknowledgement taking place. 70% of younger workers say they haven’t received enough recognition from their employers on their performance over the pandemic. That is staggeringly high compared to 38% of those aged over 45.
Remote working has clearly taken a toll on younger workers.
It comes at a time when remote working has clearly taken a toll on younger workers. 60% of younger workers state remote working has affected their career progression, compared to just 12% of those aged over 45. “These findings highlight just how important it is for [organisations] to reconnect with their people, and recognise their efforts over the last few years”, said Ross Seychell, Chief People Officer at Personio. “Especially those earlier on in their careers.”
‘A worrying disconnect between HR and reality’
On the HR side of things, 64% of HR managers report that retention is currently their biggest issue. But the research highlights what it calls a ‘worrying disconnect’ between perceived reality and what is actually going on. While younger workers say they are increasingly looking for a better work-life balance (85%) as well as employee wellbeing (88%), those aspects aren’t necessarily met on the HR side of things.
“This highlights an urgent need for their primarily non-Gen Z and non-Millennial managers to evolve quickly to meet the needs of their younger workforce.”
The research shows that only 19% of organisations and HR teams are currently reviewing their employee experience. Meanwhile, just 29% are looking to improve work life balance. “This highlights an urgent need for their primarily non-Gen Z and non-Millennial managers to evolve quickly to meet the needs of their younger workforce”, the report concludes.
“The bottom line is that if businesses fail to implement a holistic people strategy that meets the demands of their entire workforce, they will face the consequences of discontentment.”
“With young people feeling alienated and overlooked at work, HR managers and employers must understand more about their concerns and what they are looking for from the world of work”, Seychell added. “The bottom line is that if businesses fail to implement a holistic people strategy that meets the demands of their entire workforce, they will face the consequences of discontentment. And in the worst cases, an exodus of valuable young talent.”
