One thing that will retain talented workers who may feel overworked or undercompensated as a result of the recession: Benefits. 
First, the bad news
Aflac’s 2012 Workforces Report revealed there are a lot of unhappy employees out there considering moves to other companies:
- 49% of workers said they are “at least somewhat likely” to look for a new job this year
- 27% of those workers said they are “very” or “extremely likely” to look for a new job in the next 12 months
- The majority of those who say they are “very” or “extremely likely” to look for a new job describe themselves as the kind of workers companies need to retain to remain competitive, and
- 35% of workers who don’t feel their company has a reputation for being a great place to work said they are “extremely likely” to leave in the next 12 months.
And they’re not kidding around. A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (cited by Aflac) showed the number of employees quitting has been steadily rising since December of 2009.
Now for the good news
Employees themselves are telling companies how to keep them on board. They want a robust benefits package that gives them piece of mind:
- When asked what their current employer could do to keep them in their job, 49% said “improve my benefits package”
- 34% said their benefits package was “very” or “extremely influential” in their decision to stay with their employer
- Workers who were “extremely” or “very satisfied” with their benefits were found to be nine times more likely to stay with their employer
- 73% of workers who said they’re “extremely” or “very satisfied” with their benefits also said they’re “extremely” or “very satisfied” with their job, and
- 76% of employees said they’d be at least “somewhat likely” to accept a job with a more robust benefits package but lower compensation.
Info: The employee survey portion of the 2012 Aflac Workforces Report surveyed 6,151 working adults online.
