As the year comes to a close, companies are grappling with many of the same issues that have plagued the workforce in recent years.
So is more of the same expected in 2023? Well, sort of.
According to Qualtrics’ 2023 Employee Experience Report, employee expectations are still shifting, but employers are holding their ground. Of the 29,000 workers surveyed, two key factors seem to be impacting worker preferences: burnout and purpose.
Support and the desire to do meaningful work is a top priority for many, and in 2023, workers will focus their job hunts on companies that can offer both.
“[As] the economic picture shifts and people focus on their basic needs, clear and open communication are essential,” said Dr. Benjamin Granger, chief workplace psychologist at Qualtrics.
“Employees want reassurance that their jobs are secure, and that they’ll get some relief from burnout after the disruption brought on by the confluence of COVID, an economic downturn and geopolitical events.”
However, an incoming recession may stave off relief. The survey shows that employee satisfaction dropped six percentage points from one year ago, coinciding with companies looking to cut corners in an effort to stay afloat.
“Pay is understandably top of mind for employees, but organizations should also understand what tradeoffs they may be willing to make when it comes to pay to retain top talent,” said Granger. “Additionally, companies should conduct regular analyses to make sure employees are paid fairly with their industry peers.”
While limiting pay raises and costly benefits may seem like the logical move for companies in an uncertain economic climate, workers who are burned out may end up costing companies more.
“While we often think of heavy workloads, inefficient and bureaucratic processes are also big problems when it comes to employee burnout. We must listen to employees to understand what obstacles they’re running into, and then remove them,” said Granger.
