Almost two-thirds (62%) of UK employee respondents cite pay as the primary reason they come to work, compared to 49% of respondents across Europe, according to research by human resources management software provider ADP.
Its survey, which polled 2,518 employees across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, also found that 13% of UK respondents come to work because they love what they do; this compares with 26% of staff based in the Netherlands.
Jeff Phipps (pictured), managing director at ADP UK, said: “Every employee is motivated by a multitude of different factors however our research shows how the split between financial and non-financial motivations can have important implications for employee engagement and satisfaction.
“Engagement is proven to be an important factor in both employee productivity and overall organisational success, and these findings show concerns in the UK regarding [employee] engagement, with many not feeling motivated by their roles.”
Around a fifth (19%) of UK respondents think about quitting their current role at least every week and 9% think about quitting their job most days. This compares to 11% and 6% among respondents from other European countries.
Of those respondents who stated that they work to pay for things they want or need, 16% feel frustrated when they get paid, and a further 27% feel disappointed. However, of those who feel that they love what they do and the organisation they work for, only 12% feel frustrated when they get paid, and 9% feel disappointed.
Phipps added: “UK leaders should think carefully about how they can engage their employees, creating dialogues with employees and processes whereby [employees] can develop their passions and do what they love.
“Our research shows that [employees] who feel less motivated by their roles and more motivated by money are less likely to feel involved in their [organisation’s] mission and values, meaning less engagement and lower retention. Employers have an important role to play in reversing this trend, creating policies that build a committed workforce and lead to high-performing [organisations].”
