At least 86% employees desire ability to choose where to work: Report

While considering a change in the work environment, a whopping 70 per cent of Indian employees feel it important for them to be able to choose where to work. Of these, about 34 per cent think it is extremely important to be able to decide where they can work from, while globally, only 18 per cent feel so. For 36 per cent Indian employees it is very important, for 16 per cent it is moderately important and for seven per cent it is slightly important. Only six per cent think it is not important.

This insight into employee behaviour comes from PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2022, which aims to help employers expect, plan and prepare for specific scenarios at the workplace.

The report goes on to reveal that about 93 per cent employees in India wish to be able to choose when to work, compared to the global 88 per cent. In fact, 34 per cent Indian employees think it is extremely important for them to be able to choose their work timing, while for 36 per cent it is very important. For 15 per cent, it is moderately important to be able to decide when they can work, while considering a change in work environment, and for eight per cent it is only slightly important.

Thirty-nine per cent of employees think it is extremely important for them to have a clear plan to advance their career with their employer, while thinking of changing their work environment, and 39 per cent feel it is very important, while 12 per cent think it is moderately important. Only about four per cent feel it is not important to have a clear plan for career advancement with the employer at the time of considering a change of workplace.

Another factor employees want to consider while making a change in the work environment is whether they can truly be themselves at work. A good 43 per cent Indians think this is extremely important for them, compared to the global 29 per cent! While 38 per cent Indians think it is very important, 10 per cent think it is moderately important. Only three per cent think this is not important.

About 95 per cent Indians think it is important for the job to be fulfilling. Of these, 42 per cent think it is extremely important, while 37 per cent think it is very important, 12 per cent think it is moderately important and four per cent think it is just slightly important. Globally, 91 per cent consider it important for the job to be fulfilling.

Of course 42 per cent Indians also consider fair financial reward as an extremely important factor. Of these, about 37 per cent think it is very important to be fairly rewarded financially for their work.

What the report makes clear is that it is not just compensation that employees take into consideration while accepting a job. Employers need to understand that today’s talent wants to be able to know that their work will have a significant impact on the team. About 41 per cent employees in India consider this an extremely important factor, while thinking of taking up a new job.

Indian employees also want their managers to consider their viewpoint. About 39 per cent think this an extremely important deciding factor while taking up a job.

A whopping 97 per cent want to be able to innovate and be creative in their job. While 43 per cent of them think this is extremely important, 37 per cent think it is very important, 12 per cent think it is moderately important and five per cent think it is slightly important.

That is not all. The talent of today have minds of their own for sure, because 37 per cent feel it is extremely important to be able to choose how they do their work in a way that suits them. About 38 per cent think this is very important, and 14 per cent think it is moderately important.

While considering a work environment, employees in India today prefer to work in teams that care about their wellbeing too, with 41 per cent considering this an extremely important factor.

Clearly, employers need to accept that, going forward, it is the organisational purpose that will drive the employee value proposition.