It is well known that many, if not most, employees want a hybrid work schedule in which they can work remotely at least some of the time. For some, this flexibility is so important that they are willing to change jobs to find it. Research would appear to back this up. More than 40% of the people surveyed in the Work Trend Index said they are considering leaving their employer in 2021.
But employee discontent goes deeper than just whether they can work from home, according to research by JLL.
Peter Miscovich, managing director, Strategy + Innovation, Consulting at JLL, says that people today are concerned about their career advancement and their long-term professional growth. "Many are seeking new skills and capabilities, possibly to prepare for future career changes," he says. "Still others, having tasted what remote and flexible work is like, these folks want greater flexibility for the longer-term. And then there are those people who are looking for a strong connection to the company's purpose and values—people seeking corporate cultures that are more fully aligned with their true values."
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Julie Wilkinson, global product owner, Workplace Experience, JLL, says that many workers don't just want to change jobs. Instead, they want to change careers.
"The pandemic was stressful and a lot of people are feeling burned out," she says. "They are, in some cases, even willing to take a pay cut for more balance in their lives."
Wilkinson says that it is important for companies to encourage people to take a break to avoid burnout. Health and wellness support is also valuable, according to Miscovich. He says that the companies that can fully support and enable the employee will attract the best talent.
It will also be necessary for companies to find inventive ways to help upskill and reskill people. Employees need to feel they have a path forward to get promoted and advance in their careers and gain compensation, according to Miscovich. He says employees are growing unsatisfied because companies are not doing enough to ensure that people feel financially secure. To solve this, organizations need to help provide employees with a path to buy a home, educate their children and take care of their families.
The physical workspace can also play a role in attracting talent. Ram Srinivasan, managing director, Consulting, JLL, says companies must create experience parity for in-office, hybrid and remote workers. "To attract and retain top talent, companies will need their technology to be seamless across the hybrid work environments, which levels the playing field for employees," he says.
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Leslie Shaver
Les Shaver has been covering commercial and residential real estate for almost 20 years. His work has appeared in Multifamily Executive, Builder, units, Arlington Magazine in addition to GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum.
