Workplace Snapshot: Walking the Retention Tightrope - Balancing Employees’ Needs and Wants
Spherion Survey Shows that More Than One-Quarter Of U.S. Workers Don’t Believe That Their Company is Taking Steps to Retain Them
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., November 28, 2005 — With nearly 40 percent (39 percent) of working adults in the U.S. reporting that they are likely to look for a new job in the next year1, it is imperative that employers focus on their retention efforts. The situation will only get worse as jobs continue to be created and demographic changes in the workforce create talent shortages.
However, according to a recent Spherion® Workplace Snapshot Survey of 1,383 employed adults in the U.S., 27 percent of workers don’t believe that their company is taking steps to retain them and 31 percent believe that turnover or retention is already a problem at their company. Another survey by Spherion also found that less than half (41 percent) of adult workers feel that their company's morale is high2.
“Working is about more than just a paycheck,” said Richard Lamond, senior vice president and chief HR officer of Spherion. “Employees want the opportunity to grow and advance within an organization. They want a positive relationship with their supervisor, a workplace that promotes work-life balance and the proper training they need to perform their job well. Employers that implement programs to increase retention and boost morale, such as flextime and telecommuting options, expanding training and development offerings and coaching services will become an employer of choice. Not only will this help reduce turnover, but it puts companies in a better position to recruit top talent as well.”
Additional Findings
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U.S. Workforce: Likely to look for a job in the next 12 months1:
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Likely
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60%
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Neither likely
nor unlikely
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15%
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Unlikely
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25%
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Breakdown by Age
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Age
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18-24
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25-29
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30-39
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40-49
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50-64
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65+ *
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Likely
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60%
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52%
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42%
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39%
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23%
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12%
|
|
Neither likely
nor unlikely
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15%
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9%
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12%
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10%
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8%
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7%
|
|
Unlikely
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25%
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38%
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46%
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51%
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69%
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81%
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1 Harris Interactive online survey conducted on behalf of Spherion between Oct. 4-6 and 12-14, 2005 among 2,685 U.S. employed adults aged 18 and over. Sampling error for the overall results is +/- 2 percentage points.
2 Harris Interactive online survey conducted on behalf of Spherion between Aug. 3-5, 2005 among 1,414 U.S. employed adults aged 18 and over. Sampling error is +/-3 percentage points.
* Denotes very small base. Data should only be used directionally.
Methodology
The Spherion® Workforce Snapshot Survey is based on data from the Harris Interactive QuickQuerySM online omnibus conducted monthly by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Spherion Corporation.
A U.S. sample of 1,383 employed adults, aged 18 years and older, was interviewed in a poll conducted between June 14-16, 2005. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education and region were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting adjusted for respondents’ propensity to be online. In theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. population of employed adults had been polled with complete accuracy. This online sample is not a probability sample.
About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com), based in Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll® and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value.
Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe (www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V.
To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, go to www.harrispollonline.com.
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