Canadian workers less loyal to employer than global counterparts: survey

Canadian workers are less loyal to their employer than their counterparts around the world, according to a new survey by the ADP Research Institute.

The survey, which polled employees and employers in 13 countries, including Canada, the United States, Britain, France, China and India, found 57 per cent of Canadian employees feel loyal to their employer, compared to the global average of 70 per cent.

Among Canadian workers, 63 per cent said they’re either actively seeking a new job or are open to a new job, which is the highest of all the countries surveyed. In addition, 31 per cent of Canadian workers have been at their current job for less than three years, which is higher than the global average of 18 per cent.

Read: Employees favouring company culture, career progression over pay: survey

The survey also found three-quarters of Canadian employees understand how they add to the success of their company and 71 per cent have a desire to play an important role in the organization. However, a lower percentage believe their work is purposeful (51 per cent) and their work is valued (47 per cent). More than 60 per cent of employers, however, believe their employees feel a purpose and value within the company.

“It’s clear there’s a substantial disconnect between the employee experience and expectations, and the employer’s perception,” said Virginia Brailey, vice-president of marketing and strategy at ADP Canada Co., in a press release. “A disconnect that poses a risk for employers in losing talent and leads employees to look for other job opportunities.

“Canadian employees are looking for meaning and purpose in their work but they feel the core elements of talent management are out of their control. Organizations that invest in humanizing talent attraction, management and retention stand to benefit from a more engaged, motivated and loyal workforce.”

Read: Recognition programs not engaging young workers: study

According to the survey, 67 per cent of employees feel they know how to be successful in their organization, 72 per cent know how their performance will be judged and 61 per cent feel the drive to excel in their position. On the other hand, employers hold a more positive opinion of performance reviews, according to the survey, as 83 per cent believe they provide benchmarks for development and advancement compared to 58 per cent of employees.

The survey also found 61 per cent of employees believe the expectations they had when taking their current job have been met, while 53 per cent have left a job opportunity when it wasn’t what was expected. And Canadian employees are, on average, willing to change jobs for a 12 per cent salary increase, compared to the global average of 15 per cent.

Read: Employee engagement in Canada rises to 70%: survey

Almost 60 per cent of Canadian employers surveyed believe leaving the company to advance one’s career is necessary and that people should always be seeking their next job.

The top three reasons listed by Canadians for picking a job are work hours, a flexible schedule and the work itself, according to the survey. The work itself and work hours also showed up on the top four reasons Canadians leave a job, along with poor relationships with managers and a lack of career development.

“By considering the personal connection and meaning of each role for each employee, managers can create an employment journey for staff that is fulfilling, rewarding and beneficial for both the company and the individual,” said Brailey. “This will help to both retain talent and drive a stronger bottom line in the short and long term.”