UK employers place great value on staff loyalty, but do not pay their workers enough money to gain it, according to research.
Vodafone’s Working Nation Survey, based on the responses of 300 employers and 1,000 staff, shows that 92% of employers believe that loyal staff work conscientiously, recommend the organisation as a place of work, and are proud to tell others where they work.
Staff said the best way to boost loyalty is to offer improved pay and conditions, but only 64% said they trust managers to pay them the going rate for their position.
They also said loyalty would grow with moves to create trust between employer and worker, flexible working options and a well-communicated corporate direction and vision.
The Working Nation project – an ongoing study of the changing face of the UK workplace – also reveals that the concept of staff loyalty has changed radically in the last generation. Time served is no longer the prime indicator of an employee’s loyalty – it is now regarded as their achievement.
Only 8% of employers believe that length of service is the best indicator of loyalty, while 42% look for achievement. Employees feel even more strongly that achievement is the best indicator of staff loyalty (50%), with only 13% of respondents viewing the time spent with one employer as the best gauge.
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How loyal is HR?
A survey of 200 HR staff by consultancy Hudson, shows:
- 79% are not planning to remain in HR for the remainder of their working lives
- 79% cite money as the most important factor in job choice
- 60% take notice of corporate values when choosing their next role
- 70% believe quality of life is more important than their careers
- 69% claim they work to live, rather than live to work.
