It's meaning over money for these employees
Salary is pushed to the backgrounds for 44% of employees as they revealed that they won't mind being given a lower pay as long as their job has a contribution to society, a new report has found.
According to Randstad's latest 2022 Workmonitor survey in Singapore, this is prominent among workers with ages between 45 and 54 (47%). Coming after them are employees with ages between 25 and 34 (46%), employees who are between 35 and 44 years of age (39%), and then workers with ages between 18 and 24 (38%).
The findings show employees' growing commitment to more meaningful work over money - in fact, 43% of the report's respondents said they would reject a job if it did not align with their social and environmental values. The same number of employees also said they would not accept a job if it was not making a "proactive effort" to improve diversity and equity within their organisations.
Randstad said employers need to be "mindful" of how they can shape cultural policies in the workplace, especially with "increasing aspirations and heightened social awareness" among employees.
"Workers who get the opportunity to drive real and positive changes would feel more fulfilled and satisfied in their roles, and are more connected with the larger purpose of the organisation," stressed Randstad on its website.
It suggested offering opportunities, such as employee resource groups, where workers can participate in conversations related to social awareness.
"This can be as big-picture as the company's tangible actions to reverse climate change and promote gender equality - or as micro-focused as providing flexibility to their employees," said Randstad.
Read more: #MeToo, BLM: How are social movements changing workplaces?
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Work-life balance
Meanwhile, the report also found that 94% of respondents remain firm on the importance of work-life balance.
According to the report, 77% of employees value the importance of having the option to work remotely, while 80% underscore the importance of having flexible work hours.
Jaya Dass, managing director of Randstad Malaysia and Singapore, advised employers to "reconsider" the purpose of offices as employees are forced readjust their family responsibilities amid return-to-office schemes.
"Companies should reconsider the purpose of the office as a collaborative space that fills up the communicative gaps of remote work, rather than resign to closed-off work cubicles," said Dass in the report.