Consequently, in the last six months, 44% of employees felt added pressure in their roles. This is no surprise when 73% have had to take on more responsibilities without a pay bump or promotion, 71% have worked longer hours and for more than three in five (62%) employees, professional development has taken a backseat.

“The continuing pandemic and introduction of the Great Resignation has put a strain on workforces, diminishing company culture, career progression and engagement. This spike in turnover and the isolation of remote work has contributed to a weaker sense of belonging for many employees,” said Achievers’ Chief Workforce Scientist Dr Natalie Baumgartner. “This lack of belonging is pushing workers out the door as they pursue new job opportunities with the hope of finding workplaces they feel valued and supported in.”

When it comes to what would help improve belonging in the workplace, more than three in four (77%) say being paid market value and / or rewarded frequently would have strengthened their sense of belonging at their company and 73% of employees say improved and inclusive benefits would help. These efforts should be a priority for every employer as just over a fifth (21%) of employees feel a very strong sense of belonging at work while the same percentage (21%) either never or rarely feel that they belong.

Additional Key Findings From the 2022 Employee Engagement & Retention Report

Lack of Company Culture is Causing Engagement Problems

• Twenty percent of UK employees report feeling disengaged (11%) or completely disengaged (9%)
• To increase engagement employers must focus on company culture. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of employees would be more engaged at work if their employer improved its company culture and nearly half (49%) of employees feel their company’s culture has deteriorated since the start of the pandemic

 Improving Employee Retention Relies on More Meaningful Recognition

• Nearly a fifth (19%) of employees are never recognised for their work by their managers/ companies and a third (34%) are recognised only annually or quarterly - a worrisome trend as direct one-on-one recognition from managers is the top factor that makes more than a quarter (27%) of employees feel most valued at work
• Additionally, 72% of employees say a strong recognition culture makes a company attractive to work for, but only (58%) say the workplace recognition they currently receive is meaningful (implying that 42% do not)

Across the Globe Employees are Also Feeling Strain:

• Two-thirds (66%) of employees across the globe are considering a job hunt in 2022, while half (49%) of employees looked for a new job during the pandemic
• Nearly half (48%) of respondents say company culture has deteriorated since the start of the pandemic and just 20% of employees are highly engaged
• More than half (52%) of employees say they stay in a job because they feel valued and supported

For more information about the 2022 Employee Engagement & Retention Report and additional data on the state of the workforce in Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States, click here.