Today’s workforce is more united than ever in its demand for a seismic change in the way we all conduct business in the future. It’s no longer enough to measure just financial success, with employees from across the generations* calling on businesses to be a force for good and drive positive change in the world.
The reason? The line between our personal and professional worlds is blurring as technology frees us from the traditional 9-5 office set-up. The choice of our profession and how we decide to work is increasingly becoming a defining factor of who we are as individuals. This is driving employees of all ages to question if their employer is a perfect match in terms of their own vision and values.
David Mills, CEO of Ricoh Europe, says,
In an era of otherwise polarised views, our research reveals that employees are united in their demand that businesses be held to higher moral and ethical standards. We’re seeing a greater understanding that no action is too small to contribute to the bigger picture and therefore a realisation that the collective impact businesses can have will be significant to ensuring a better future for generations to come.
New research commissioned by Ricoh Europe reveal that:
Sixty four per cent of workers agree sustainability needs to be at the centre of business and product strategies in the next five to ten year. An average of 65 per cent across all generations believe in their company’s values and ideals. Employees are personally invested in their workplaces, with an average of 59 per cent across all generations viewing their work as a key factor in defining who they are as a person. An average of 63 per cent across all generations think the way the world does business will change dramatically in the next five to ten years.
Employees also believe the role of a responsible employer should include upskilling a digital workforce and innovating in their sectors. Workers see new technologies as vital in driving this change, with 63 per cent agreeing technology should play a central role in helping them work to the best of their abilities. Meanwhile, 69 per cent believe that the best workplaces invest in digital technologies for upskilling staff.
Mills adds,
It’s not just the younger generations who want businesses to act. We’re seeing all age groups coming together with a collective demand to incorporate more sustainable and responsible working practices. This involves operating in harmony with the environment, demonstrating respect for your people as well as the wider societies in which a business operates. At Ricoh, we’re doing this by embracing and taking action to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including a commitment to reducing our CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. As business leaders, we have a duty to listen to our workforce and we’re hearing them loud and clear when it comes to the bigger picture.
Interested in the future of work? We recommend the Future of Work Summit 20019.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.