This is why your employees want to leave you

Eight in 10 Canadian workers are confidently exploring new career opportunities even while employed, new research showed.

The majority of Canadian professionals (79%) are at least somewhat comfortable searching for a new job while they remain with their current employer, global staffing firm Accountemps found.

More than half (57%) are open to performing a job search while at work.

Of the different age groups, six in 10 professionals aged 18 to 34 would feel comfortable job hunting even from their current office, compared to employees aged 35 to 54 (54%) and 55 and above (45%) who are likely to do the same.

The results echo the findings of a Gallup study that found 21% of millennials have changed jobs within the past year, and that six in 10 millennials are open to new opportunities.

“It’s fine to search for a job while employed,” said David King, Canadian president of Accountemps. “Just make every effort to ensure your hunt doesn’t affect or jeopardize your current position.”

“Remain respectful of your company and colleagues throughout the process. Look for roles and schedule interviews on your own time and be discrete on social media to avoid potentially damaging your work relationships or professional reputation,” King said, advising job hunters to limit possible distractions during work hours.

“Use personal devices and resources to explore new positions and consider engaging a staffing firm to assist with outreach or logistics, so you stay productive while still advancing your search,” he said.