Nearly nine out of ten U.S. employees – 88 percent – reported that salary mattered more than any other job factor, according to a new CareerBuilder survey of more than 3,900 full-time workers nationwide that explored which job factors were most important to today’s workers.
Other factors that were most important to workers included flexible schedule (59 percent), being able to make a difference (48 percent), challenging work (35 percent), ability to work from home (33 percent), academic reimbursement(18 percent), having an office (17 percent), and company car (14 percent).
“What determines job satisfaction is not a one-size-fits-all, but flexibility, recognition, the ability to make a difference and yes, even special perks, can go a long way,” Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder stated in a press release.
The survey found that nearly one-third of employers – 32 percent – reported that top performers left their organizations in 2012 and 39 percent were concerned that they would lose top talent in 2013.
More than one in four workers – 26 percent – said providing special perks was an effective way to improve employee retention. When asked to identify perks that would make their workplace more satisfying, their answers included early dismissals on Friday (40 percent), onsite fitness centers (20 percent), and casual dress such as wearing jeans (18 percent).
The majority of workers (70 percent) reported that increasing salaries is the best way to boost employee retention followed by better benefits (58 percent). Other actions workers said employers should take to reduce voluntary turnover included providing flexible schedules (51 percent), increasing employee recognition (50 percent), asking employees for feedback (48 percent), and increasing training and learning opportunities (35 percent).
While two out of three workers – 66 percent – stated that they were generally satisfied with their jobs, one in four – 25 percent – said they would change jobs in 2013 or 2014. In addition, more than half of workers (55 percent) said having a certain title was not important.
The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive© from November 1 to November 30, 2012.
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