Kiwis want to feel a sense of purpose at work

Employees want to be given a sense of purpose at work and know how their contribution makes a difference, according to recruiting experts Hays.

According to findings in the latest Hays Journal, the recruiter says that the value in employee engagement terms of a competitive salary and perks has reduced and been replaced by a desire to work with purpose and make a difference.

“Employee engagement was traditionally driven by a good salary and attractive benefits, but today most people see these as a given,” says Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand. “Instead they look at what an organisation is working towards and known for. Crucially, they want to know that, as an employee, they will understand what they are working towards and how they make a difference, which gives them a greater sense of purpose.”

This shared sense of purpose was also identified in Hays’ report, Staff Engagement: Ideas for action, as crucial to employee engagement. So much so that 94% of employees said a clear understanding of how their role helps the organisation achieve its objectives is a ‘very important’ or ‘important’ engagement factor for them. What’s more, 26% said they would look for another job if they did not have this understanding, while 51% ‘might’ look elsewhere.