Randstad’s global Workmonitor Mobility Index tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next six months. It also monitors employee satisfaction and other sentiments in order to provide a more complete picture of today’s job market trends. Take a look at some of the latest findings below.
what we learned this quarter
appetite for job change increased but still remains low
american workers continue to be content with their work
This quarter, the U.S. ranks in the top five (out of 34 countries) of most satisfied workers and has seen a two percent increase in overall job satisfaction.
job satisfaction of U.S. workers
U.S. workers feel pressure to blend work and life
This quarter's survey results showed that the American workforce feels pressure to be available outside of regular working hours, during the holidays and while on vacation.
52%
said their employer expects them and their colleagues to be available outside of regular working hours.
64%
respond to work-related calls, emails and text messages outside of regular working hours.
36%
feel pressured to respond to work-related calls, emails and text messages when they are on vacation/holiday.
However, U.S. workers don’t seem to mind — they often choose to handle work-related matters during holidays because they like to stay involved/updated. In the same vein, they regularly handle private matters during working hours, too.
49%
handle work-related matters during holidays because they like to stay involved/updated.
72%
handle private matters during working hours.
employer takeaways
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High engagement and dedication amongst employees are dream qualities and often motivate other employees within your workforce, creating a positive work culture.
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Watch employees who often strive to go above and beyond their role (e.g., checking emails outside of working hours) as it increases the likelihood of employee burnout or workers feeling underappreciated. Recognize the signs you may have an employee engagement issue before it decreases employee productivity or spirals into a serious turnover problem.
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Check in with employees to ensure you’re not unintentionally cultivating a stress-induced, always-on work culture. Research shows that 30 percent of employees leave a company because of work-life balance issues.
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Consider establishing a policy around after-hours communications to set clear expectations for your workers — and stick to them. We’ve found that while 43 percent of organizations have established policies about after-hours communications, only 18 percent of employees say they are aware of them.
For more insights, download the full Q4 report here.
And, if you're facing challenges with employee engagement, retention and workforce diversity, see all the ways that Randstad can help.
survey methodology
The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, and covers 34 countries around the world. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time. The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next six months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions. The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The fourth survey of 2019 was conducted from October 22 through November 6, 2019.
