Ceridian's Pulse of Talent Reveals Nearly 1 in 4 American Employees Think Their Workplace Culture Needs Improving

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwired - April 19, 2016) -  Ceridian's Pulse of Talent: Driving Culture In The World Of Now, conducted by Nielsen, reveals why workplace culture is top of mind for many executives. Survey results show organizations can improve their programs and resources to help build thriving relationships, grow productive teams and create a positive work environment. Key findings show that people -- employees vs. organizations -- are influencing the evolution of workplace culture. Here are some of the highlights:

Employees Look For Great Workplace Culture, Else They Move On

A positive work lifestyle has never been more important in attracting and retaining top employees. Today's progressive organizations realize if they don't attempt to improve their culture in response to shifting talent markets and increased competition, employees will take their talents elsewhere. According to The Pulse of Talent, 74% of Gen Y and 45% of Gen X North American employees plan on spending fewer than five years with their current employer.

"Company culture is a major part of the employer brand, which organizations must fully leverage to attract, retain and engage their team members," says Lisa Sterling, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Ceridian. "Many organizations have come to realize this and are attempting to transform their culture in order to drive employee performance and business success."

Employee Recognition & Learning Programs Drive Workplace Culture Forward

People want companies to invest in them both as an employee and as an individual. Pulse of Talent North American respondents consider training programs (63%), recognition programs (54%) and leadership development programs (43%) to be the top three HR initiatives that influence workplace culture. Employee recognition initiatives appear to fall short of expectations, with less than 50% of respondents indicating they do have access to any kind of employee recognition program at their organization, along with the perception that most recognition programs in their current state are ineffective.

"To transform a recognition and learning program, business leaders should listen to their employees and craft and adapt programs that resonate with a diverse group," adds Sterling. "Employees are demanding ongoing experiences: continuous employee-to-employee and manager feedback, opportunities to grow, personalized recognition and workplace flexibility to stay engaged. Recognition and learning programs should go well beyond the basics to challenge employees and reward them in meaningful and personal ways."

Though a majority of North American respondents (89%) rated financial-related benefits, such as pay increases and time-away from work as most important to making work culture better, organizations should also look beyond financial benefits and consider non-monetary rewards and recognition that are more tailored to individual employee preferences. These types of rewards could be tickets to an event, additional paid time-off or the latest personal technology device. Top performers strive for this type of recognition and if they don't receive it, they will look elsewhere.

Organizations Need To Recognize The Demand For Technology Resources & Accommodate

Gen Y is more likely than older age cohorts to look for the ability to utilize the latest technology including wearables and the ability to connect via social media while at work, while a higher proportion of Gen X employees expect to leverage smartphones and tablets to enhance their worklife experience. The Pulse of Talent uncovered that many organizations have not recognized the demand for technology beyond the basics. For instance, only 31% of North American companies allow the use of social media for work purposes and only 40% of North American respondents claim to have access to a smartphone, through work.

"Most brands are now clearly visible online and are using social media to engage with customers and prospective employees," explains Sterling. "As work and life blend together, people's expectations of their employer have changed. There is the desire for faster access to information from anywhere and the technological resources to make this happen. Providing access to the latest technology devices and embracing social media can play a significant role in improving workplace culture, delivering a win-win engagement opportunity for both the individual and the organization. Employees who know how to use social media and comply with their company's social media policy can be very effective brand ambassadors."

Great Culture Begins With Great Leadership & Collaboration

According to The Pulse of Talent, American employees gravitate towards workplace cultures grounded in clear communication and leadership. Organizations across North America are increasingly moving toward a collaborative and empowered work environment, consisting of a network of teams.

"A fundamental part of every organization's approach to human capital management is building great teams," says Sterling. "If you have groups that work well together, enabled by clear and effective communication and leadership's ability to cultivate trusting relationships, your business will be in a much better position to succeed. Providing tools that allow for daily engagement check-ins and personalized coaching enables individual employees and organizational leaders to be more deliberate about their interactions with others, creating better teams, and helping to positively impact employee engagement and the overall workplace culture."

For more information, view the Pulse of Talent infographic, or read a complete summary of Ceridian's Pulse of Talent: Driving Culture In The World Of Now survey results.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online within Canada and the United States by Nielsen on behalf of Ceridian from August 12 to August 27, 2015, among 1,638 adults ages 18 and older who work for an employer in either a salaried or hourly role. The data was weighted by age, gender and region where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in Canada and the United States.

About Ceridian

Ceridian is a global human capital management technology company serving more than 50 countries. Our offering includes the award winning, cloud-based Dayforce HCM, Global Solutions, and Small Business Payroll. Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better™ For more information about Ceridian solutions call 1-800-729-7655 or visit www.ceridian.com.

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