Survey finds workers poised for mass exodus
Workers are poised for a mass exodus next year, according to a poll of 1,413 workers in the United States by Right Management. Employees are feeling increasingly restless and intend to leave in droves if opportunities open up in the job market.
Eighty-four percent of the employees polled say they plan to look for new jobs in 2011, up from 60 per cent reported in Right Management’s survey one year ago. Only five per cent intend to remain in their current position (compared to 13 per cent in the previous survey).
“This finding is more about employee dissatisfaction and discontent than projected turnover,” said Douglas Matthews, president and chief operating officer at Right Management. “We view it as a barometer of their trust in management or commitment to the job. It’s a workplace equivalent to opinion polling on whether or not ‘this country is moving in the right direction.’ Just as people are questioning their elected leaders in government, so too are workers wondering if their management is up to the challenge of renewed growth or developing a sound strategy moving forward.”
The prolonged recession, continued job market weakness and disruptive economic and workforce changes are the underlying factors contributing most to employees’ backlash, he said, and employees’ trust has been seriously shaken.
“Clearly, if the job market picks up a lot next year, many employees are going to take advantage of it and organizations stand to lose some of their top contributors,” said Matthews. “So this is a wake-up call to management.”
