New research finds what UK job hunters and current employees desire most in job roles.
Research from TopCV, a CV-writing service, shows that just under a third of UK workers (30 per cent) desire a four-day work week as part of their job role.
Over the summer, MPs from the Green Party and the SNP sent this recommendation to Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Citing improved mental health and benefits for the environment, the letter urged the Government to implement the measure as a response to rising unemployment.
It stated:
A four-day week would bring multiple benefits to society, the environment, our democracy, and our economy (through increased productivity).
One of the biggest impacts would be better mental health and wellbeing across the board with more time available for socialising, family and community.
[It was used] as a way of reducing unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s, which led to the normalisation of the eight-hour day and the 40-hour week.
Furthermore, TopCV found that a change of career or industry ranked next highest for UK workers with 29 per cent stating that this would be their number one priority in their next job.
Additionally, almost a fifth (19 per cent) of employees wanted to work for an organisation that was committed to diversity, inclusion and equality (DEI). This is interesting when considering previous research that found one third of employees feel that the pandemic has delayed efforts to improve diversity and inclusion within their companies.
Just over one in ten employees (12 per cent) desired to work for an organisation that gave them more time to focus on life outside work including volunteering, family and hobbies.
Finally, 10 per cent of workers wanted increased support with their mental wellbeing. These employees desired to work for a company that provides mental health and wellbeing support such as having access to counselling services through their firm.
Amanda Augustine, careers expert at TopCV, commented:
The events over the past year have prompted many professionals to reevaluate their priorities, particularly when it comes to their career and the type of organisation they want to work for. From the coronavirus crisis to the Black Lives Matter movement, individuals are job-searching into 2021 with a new set of criteria.
These include, but are not limited to, flexible working hours or a shorter workweek to accommodate children’s educational needs, an employer that truly prioritises diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and opportunities in relatively “recession-proof” sectors for increased job security.
*To obtain these results, TopCV surveyed 1,056 job seekers, both currently employed and unemployed, between 10th November and 23rd November.
Monica Sharma is an English Literature graduate from the University of Warwick. As Editor for HRreview, her particular interests in HR include issues concerning diversity, employment law and wellbeing in the workplace. Alongside this, she has written for student publications in both England and Canada. Monica has also presented her academic work concerning the relationship between legal systems, sexual harassment and racism at a university conference at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
