UK workers reveal what they want in a new job – and it’s not all about money

Employed adults in the UK consider flexible working and a great team of colleagues just as important as a high salary when looking for a new job.

A study of 2,000 UK adults has revealed understanding bosses and good sick pay are also major factors when applying for new roles.

Figures show half of employed people consider flexible working as their most important work perk when it comes to deciding which employer to work for.

A high salary and a great team of colleagues (both 44 per cent) were the other top factors.

Two-fifths ranked having an understanding boss as one of their main work perks, alongside good sick pay.

An annual bonus was also near the top of the pile when it came to choosing a new role, with almost one in three looking for extra cash to supplement their wages.

More than one in twenty said a trendy office was a factor when it comes to deciding on which employer to work for, alongside a fully-stocked kitchen on site.

Company cars and electric charging ports were also among the priorities.

Cas Paton, CEO at online marketplace OnBuy, which carried out the research said: “As an online marketplace, people are at the core of everything we do, from our customers and retailers to our fantastic staff who help us thrive.

As the research suggests, consumers quite rightly care about how companies treat their employees, and we believe that listening to what people actually want from their jobs is pivotal to creating a happy workforce, which is why we commissioned this study.

“We also believe in making people feel appreciated rather than a cog in the machine. For example, giving staff equity in a business is a fantastic way to reward hard work and share success. When a business succeeds, everyone should succeed”.

Researchers found more than a third (36 per cent) of adults had left jobs because they felt undervalued.

Nearly four in five (79 per cent) said they had left jobs of their own accord.

Finding a better role (42 per cent), not being paid enough (33 per cent) and being overworked (31 per cent) were other top reasons people had previously quit jobs.

Nearly one in 20 (four per cent) said they handed in their notice after having a physical fight with a colleague or boss.

However, two-thirds have stayed in jobs they didn’t enjoy – with nearly half (44 per cent) saying they did not want to deal with the stress of applying for new roles.

If people had their way, 35 per cent would want a higher salary implemented at their current work, with 31 per cent wanting an annual bonus.

There’s also strong interest in moving towards a four-day working week, with more than a quarter hoping for a better work-life balance.

Paton added: “For many, while the amount you earn is obviously important, there are other elements which play a huge factor in our general satisfaction.

“Flexible working has become a big part of our daily lives since the start of the pandemic, and it looks like that’s here to stay.

“We encourage all our staff to ‘own the way they work’ by offering a hybrid working policy, making it easier for employees to manage their work-life routines with the choice of working both in the office and at home at times that suit them.”

OnBuy took to the streets to find out more – https://www.onbuy.com/gb/news/onbuy-research-reveals-what-work-perks-help-make-the-perfect-job~a691/

TOP 30 DESIRED WORK PERKS

Flexible working hours
A high salary
A great team of colleagues
Understanding and friendly bosses
Good sick pay
Having everything you need to get the job done
An annual bonus
It being somewhere you feel proud to work
Working somewhere you are confident you can ring in an emergency and get time off
The ability to work from anywhere you want
Amount of time off to exceed the legal minimum
Visible opportunities for promotion and to rise through the ranks
A four-day working week
A staff discount
Private healthcare
A good HR department
An extensive training scheme
Staff equity
A workplace that is very diverse
A workplace that is very green and eco-friendly
Shutting down early on Friday afternoons
Unlimited annual leave
Six months or more of paid maternity/paternity leave
Your birthday off from work
A coffee machine in the office
Your own office
The opportunity to travel
A company car
Colleagues who love to socialise
Gym membership