Less than half of employees are happy in their new jobs

Employers need to offer better development opportunities and more stretch to employees to boost employee engagement in the light of findings revealing high levels of unhappiness in Britain’s workforce.

Some 50% moved jobs in the past year but of those who made the transition, less than half (45%) are ‘happy’ in their new role, according to the latest findings from the Kelly Global Workforce Index.

A fifth of people moved jobs for personal growth and advancement, whilst others looked for a better work/life balance, with only 8% seeking better compensation or benefits. But once in their new role, a fifth found the job differed from what they expected, whilst many found the work less challenging than they felt they’d been led to believe. As a result, 69% of employees report they are now looking to change jobs again in the next year.

The role of the line manager hugely impacts an employee’s level of job satisfaction, with 56% of people polled citing it had a significant impact on their level of engagement with their job.

Employers should ensure they are pitching the role at the right level, providing employees with a slight stretch in the role, rather than looking for a perfect match. They need to offer better development opportunities, as well as highlighting each employee’s goals and responsibilities clearly at the outset, says the report, Employee Engagement and Retention.

Debbie Pettingill, director, Kelly Services UK and Ireland, said that employee retention and employee engagement are proving equally challenging.
“Now, more than ever before, we’re seeing the role of the individual line manager proving critical in determining the happiness and success of each employee in the workplace,” she said.

For more information about the Kelly Global Workforce Index and key regional and generational findings, go to www.kellyservices.com.

Submit a Comment