Three out of four workers choose more responsibilities

Over 5 million people - said getting more responsibilities was more important than a pay rise according to new research from reed.co.uk published today


The research highlights how people these days increasingly seek satisfaction through challenging work, a trend that reed.co.uk has called íjobfilmentí. Over 3700 UK workers who have been promoted in the last five years were asked what one change in their working lives they most wanted from a promotion for this study.

Directors were the least likely to make gaining more money their first priority when being promoted, with only nine percent citing a pay increase as the most important consideration. Indeed 75 percent of Directors prioritised more responsibilities and challenges as their most important
desire from a promotion, compared to the national average of 73 per cent. Professional staff were most likely to look for a pay increase with 19 percent making more money their most important gain from a promotion.

Fewer hours was least likely to be chosen as first priority when seeking promotion, with under one per cent listing a shorter working week as their main aim. Just above this came the desire for more people to assist them, with only two per cent of employees wanting extra staff reporting to them as their top aim. Seven per cent of employees when seeking a promotion were looking for a completely new role above all.

When analysed by sector, employees in the Public Sector are most likely to prioritise more money when promoted, with more than one in five (21 percent quote) putting higher pay as their top objective when seeking a promotion. Just one in ten Manufacturing based employees made increased salary their top priority, which makes them the least financially driven staff, below the national average of 17 per cent.

Those in Distribution were most likely to put more responsibilities top with 81 per cent citing this as their main focus when being promoted. Public Sector workers were least likely to make more responsibility and challenge their top priority.

Regionally

Across the regions, those in East Anglia were the most work hungry, with four out five office workers prioritising more responsibilities and challenges when promoted. Employees in the North East are more likely to put increases in pay top of their wish list when looking for promotion.

What People Most Want From Promotion (percentage by region)

Dan Ferrandino Managing Director of reed.co.uk comments: People seem to be shifting their emphasis from gaining the best work / life balance towards gaining a fuller life through work. The idea that people only want more money from a promotion is no longer valid. Increased responsibilities now seem to be the main desire when seeking a promotion.

While people probably still expect a pay rise when they gain promotion,now they want much more. Employers who want to retain valuable staff need to continually offer more challenges rather than just extra cash.