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Employee disengagement is on the rise in the UK, as many workers plan to leave their jobs, a survey finds.
 


Some 61 per cent of workers say their job gives them a feeling of personal accomplishment, down from 70 per cent four years ago, according to Mercer’s What’s Working TM.

The research is based on data from 2,400 UK employees in more than 1,000 private sector organisations.
 


The survey reveals that employee commitment to their company also declined in the last four years, from 59 per cent to 52 per cent, with 55 per cent saying they feel proud to work for their organisation, compared to 60 per cent in 2006.
 


Of the 36 per cent of respondents seriously considering leaving their current job, 40 per cent of those are in the 25-34 age group, while 36 per cent are aged 35-45.
 
Some 41 per cent of managers are also thinking of changing jobs, including 53 per cent of senior managers, the survey shows.
 


Chris Johnson, UK head of human capital at human resources and financial specialist Mercer, cites pay freezes and cuts to training and benefits as the reasons behind growing employee dissatisfaction.
 


He warns, ‘Employers should be concerned at the potential loss of many key employees with the skills and experience that they have invested in, and who are needed to drive their company recovery plans.’
 


Despite just 23 per cent of respondents saying they feel indifferent about staying or moving on from their job, engagement among this group is fairly low.

Only 46 per cent report a sense of personal accomplishment in their current role and 37 per cent admitting to feeling proud for working at their organisation.
 


Johnson comments, ‘Overall, what we’re seeing is a general malaise in the workplace. This apathy and disengagement at work can undermine business performance – especially in a post-recession period when companies need commitment from their workforce and energy to drive business growth.’
 


Mercer’s head of employee research for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Patrick Gilbert, adds, ‘Our research indicates that many employees are now taking a much more self-interested view. Their expectations of employers are rising, and where those expectations are not met, they are taking actions in their own interest.’