Pay still priority for staff but ethics is catching up fast

The war in Ukraine has not only sparked global outrage and food inflation, it seems it has also contributed to a major ethical shift in career priorities, with reactions to the conflict one of the key factors determining whether people want to work for certain employers.

According to the Sensu Insight Employer Brand Report, which analysed the opinions of 2,000 UK employees, nearly a third (31%) aged 18-34 are now more likely to work for a business that took swift action against Russia.

A further fifth (18%) also reported being less likely to work for a business that took no action against Russia following their role in the conflict. A further 7% reported that they would go further still, either actively looking to change jobs, or having already resigned their role, as a direct response to their current employers’ inaction relating to Ukraine.

Even so, perhaps unsurprisingly, pay is still the crucial concern for younger staff at the moment, with half reporting that insufficient pay, or pay that does not align with their expectations, would stop them from working for a business.

But ethics are moving up the agenda: more than a third (35%) of those surveyed said a poor ethical track record would make them reconsider working for a business – a bigger barrier than poor leadership (26%) or lack of growth (16%).

A further 23% reported that a lack of gender parity in pay would persuade them to consider leaving their current role, and poor workforce diversity was also cited by one in six respondents (17%).

Sensu Insight managing director Steve Leigh commented: “Today’s graduate recruits will base their employment decisions on far more than just pay and benefits. Employers are now waking up to the needs of the younger generation, and a revolution in employer branding is likely to follow.

“Factors such as diversity and inclusion in the workforce, investing in sustainable business practices and pay equality are no longer the sole preserve of environmental, social and governance managers, but are rather front and centre of the battle to recruit the brightest and best talent in the years to come.”