After reading the Randstad Employer Branding study, should we be disappointed?
Again, the Randstad Employer Branding research in Belgium confirms that remuneration is the most important element that determines an organization’s attractiveness.
It comes before work climate, job security, work-life balance, and Location. I would say that comfort factors dominate the list.
So, should we be disappointed to see such steady and conservative behavior in this age of entrepreneurship, autonomous motivation, great resignation, new ways of working, and hybrid work …?
We should not.
Breaking news. People do work for money. And they look for comfort in general. That is why only 5%-6% of people leave their jobs in Belgium (although the intention to leave is higher), that is why they seek long-term employment contracts, that is why they shy away from self-employed work (although the number of independent consultants, and freelancers is on the rise).
And in times of volatility, comfort factors will remain important. Compensation and benefits are probably even more important when inflation is high than in stable times. Stable companies, stable sectors, and stable employment are still ideal for many people, including young people. Of course, younger people change jobs more often, but their behavior changes once their parents have to pay the mortgage. And that is not new.
Over and over, we see predictions about how the world of work will be fundamentally different. Indeed, technologies change, economies go up and down, and wars and pandemics destabilize. But what does not change is what people need.
And most people need security, predictability, and comfort. Even though they can be very resilient in the face of change, most people want to return to a steady state.
Should we be worried?
Job content is in 8th place, not very high in the ranking. And also, leadership is not very important. Still, according to Randstad Research, 44% of respondents think job content is important. 56% don’t.
I would have hoped and expected it to be higher. But here, we must not let our personal preferences cloud our observations. People are perfectly capable of executing a less interesting job. And maybe the meaningfulness does not come from the job, but from the fact that the job gives them the possibility to do what they really like, support a family, save for a house, etc…
Let’s never assume and never judge.
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