Learning new things, spending time with friends and having space to be creative are among the REAL reasons we come to work – and money is only SIXTH on our list of priorities, a study found.
Feeling professionally fulfilled is important too - as are being trusted by employers to carry out the job to a high level and stability.
Having an understanding boss, facing new challenges every day and getting to meet new people make a ‘massive’ difference too.
Commissioned by Perkbox to celebrate #WorkplaceCultureWeek, which takes place this week from the 24th to the 28th of February, the research found workplace culture is ‘very important’ to 83 per cent of working adults.
Saurav Chopra, Cofounder and CEO at Perkbox said: “It’s clear a lot of us are doing at least something right when it comes to creating a culture in which our employees feel comfortable and fulfilled.
“There’s no denying that achieving this requires the constant juggling of many factors, some of which are out of our own control or differ from one person to another.
“Yet whilst the efforts of taking them seriously enough do pay off, we rarely take the time to celebrate them together. It’s something we should definitely feel proud of!”.
Other factors which affect why we come to work include the people in the charge - or more specifically their style of leadership.
A sense of being valued is also key and so are working in an ‘appealing’ location and feeling like they make a genuine difference.
Eight in 10 feel settled in their current role - and two thirds are so content in that position they see themselves staying in it for ‘many years.’
Amazingly, half of the 2,000 employed adults polled ‘rarely’ have the ‘Sunday night dread’ when it comes to thoughts of going back to work on Monday.
In fact, four in 10 ‘love’ their jobs and colleagues so much they think of going to work as spending time with their family.
Three quarters of working adults currently feel motivated in their roles and seven in 10 feel professionally fulfilled.
Three quarters believe workplace culture is valued where they work and seven in 10 argue it’s becoming increasingly important to employees.
However their interpretation of this term varies – for some it refers to the working atmosphere, for others it is how motivated staff are, the style of leadership or how the workplace responds to change.
More than eight in 10 like to work for an organisation with clear goals or targets, while half favour an environment or job which is predictable. A fifth prefer unpredictability.
For 55 per cent, it makes a ‘significant’ difference to them that their workplace is altruistic – helping charities, supporting the local community and taking environmental issues seriously.
The Perkbox study, carried out through OnePoll, found that for eight in 10, what is important to them in their career has changed as they’ve gained more experience of the working world.
And enjoying their job is the single most important thing to them.
Alexandra Sanpera, Head of Communications at Perkbox added: “At Perkbox we want #WorkplaceCultureWeek to be an opportunity for everyone to take a step back and celebrate their annual workplace achievements, and in areas that need improving, for this to be an opportunity to make a positive change. Check out our hashtag on social media to find out more and join in!”
TOP 20 - WHY WE COME TO WORK:
- The people
- Feeling like I am good at it
- The hours
- It's fulfilling
- Working as a team
- The salary
- The location
- Feeling valued
- Having an understanding boss
- Feeling trusted
- Feeling like I make a difference
- The positive/welcoming atmosphere
- Every day is different
- Stability
- Meeting new people
- Allows me to be creative
- Being given time and space to do the job properly
- Working with friends
- Learning new things
- The leadership