Only one-half consider work to be challenging and interesting
While Canadians gave their employers a passing grade in a year-end performance review, they gave out four times as many 'B's and 'C's than 'A's, according to a workplace study from RBC.
"A report card full of 'B's and 'C's generally indicates a need for improvement and this one isn't any different," said Christianne Paris, RBC's vice-president of recruitment and learning. "Employers committed to being successful are going to have to work harder and do better to attract and retain valued employees in the current competitive landscape."
While Canadians are just as satisfied with their jobs as they were the last time the study was conducted, with 86 per cent of respondents reporting being very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their jobs in 2007 and 85 per cent in 1998, the percentage of "very satisfied" working Canadians has dropped from 49 per cent in 1998 to 36 per cent in 2007.
Workers were even tougher on their workplaces with only 18 per cent of respondents giving their workplaces an 'A' grade. Forty-three per cent handed out 'B's, 28 per handed out 'C's, eight per cent handed out 'D's and three per cent gave their workplaces a failing grade.
The survey of 2,052 working Canadians also found only 51 per cent of respondents consider their work to be challenging and interesting, with 15 per cent saying their jobs are extremely boring.
Three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents say it's important to work for an employer whose values are in line with their own and 87 per cent agree it is important to love and value the type of work they do.
When it comes to personal relationships with their employers, 59 per cent agree they respect their employer, but only 48 per cent trust their employers and only 52 per cent have a strong sense of loyalty to them. In fact, if offered a comparable job with more pay somewhere else, only 28 per cent would stay where they are.
"A report card full of 'B's and 'C's generally indicates a need for improvement and this one isn't any different," said Christianne Paris, RBC's vice-president of recruitment and learning. "Employers committed to being successful are going to have to work harder and do better to attract and retain valued employees in the current competitive landscape."
While Canadians are just as satisfied with their jobs as they were the last time the study was conducted, with 86 per cent of respondents reporting being very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their jobs in 2007 and 85 per cent in 1998, the percentage of "very satisfied" working Canadians has dropped from 49 per cent in 1998 to 36 per cent in 2007.
Workers were even tougher on their workplaces with only 18 per cent of respondents giving their workplaces an 'A' grade. Forty-three per cent handed out 'B's, 28 per handed out 'C's, eight per cent handed out 'D's and three per cent gave their workplaces a failing grade.
The survey of 2,052 working Canadians also found only 51 per cent of respondents consider their work to be challenging and interesting, with 15 per cent saying their jobs are extremely boring.
Three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents say it's important to work for an employer whose values are in line with their own and 87 per cent agree it is important to love and value the type of work they do.
When it comes to personal relationships with their employers, 59 per cent agree they respect their employer, but only 48 per cent trust their employers and only 52 per cent have a strong sense of loyalty to them. In fact, if offered a comparable job with more pay somewhere else, only 28 per cent would stay where they are.
