Employer loyalty precarious: Survey

Most employees would leave for more money, better career opportunities

Although more than one-half of Canadian employees (56 per cent) said they have the perfect job, 65 per cent would leave their employer at any moment, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor study, which surveys employees in 33 countries (with a minimal sample size of 400 per country).

Most Canadians would be willing to leave their employers for more money (75 per cent), to improve their career opportunities (70 per cent) or if they found a job that was a better match with their educational background (58 per cent).

Globally, the majority of the results are in line with Canada — 75 per cent of global respondents reported they would leave their employer if they were presented with the opportunity to make more money elsewhere; 69 per cent would change jobs to improve their career opportunities; and 59 per cent would make the switch if they found a job that better suited their education.

"We often associate low levels of employer loyalty to gen-Y workers but, today, more and more employees, regardless of age, view themselves as ‘free agents’ who must actively manage their own careers and who know what they are worth on the market. They work on maintaining cutting-edge skills and often don't feel any remorse about jumping ship if another job offers better pay or more growth opportunity," said Shannon Young, HR manager at Randstad Canada.

"Today's employees view loyalty as something their employer must earn. To make them want to stay, they'll need to be treated fairly, have plenty of opportunities to learn and develop, and be given responsibilities and projects that truly match their abilities and ambition," she says.

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