UK workers are more motivated by pay than their EU counterparts
New research from ADP indicates that money is more important to the UK’s workforce than other European countries. The study, which surveyed over 2,000 workers across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the UK, found that 62% of UK employees say payment is the primary reason they come to work. This is far higher than the other EU countries, with only 49% of their workers claiming pay is their biggest motivator.
UK employees were also the least likely to say they come to work because they love what they do, with only 13% of UK workers saying this is the case, compared to 26% in the Netherlands. Worryingly, UK workers are also the most likely to feel like quitting, with 19% thinking this every week or more, and 9% thinking about it most days. This is significantly higher than in the other EU countries, averaging 11% and 6% respectively.
The survey also found that those who work to pay for the things they want or need are more likely to feel frustrated or disappointed when they get paid (16% and 27%), compared to those who love what they do and love the company they work for (12% and 9%). Employees who work for love and enjoyment are also more likely to be engaged with their employer’s mission and values.
“Every employee is motivated by a multitude of different factors however our research shows how the split between financial and non-financial motivations can have important implications for employee engagement and satisfaction,” commented Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK. “Engagement is proven to be an important factor in both employee productivity and overall organisational success, and these findings show concerns in the UK regarding worker engagement, with many not feeling motivated by their roles”.
Phipps adds: “UK leaders should think carefully about how they can engage their employees, creating dialogues with employees and processes whereby workers can develop their passions and do what they love. Our research shows that workers who feel less motivated by their roles and more motivated by money are less likely to feel involved in their company’s mission and values, meaning less engagement and lower retention. Employers have an important role to play in reversing this trend, creating policies that build a committed workforce and lead to high-performing companies.”
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