Is work-life balance a driver for employee turnover?UK, June 8, 2005 - Four out of five employees in the UK say that work-life balance considerations play a crucial role in their decision to stay with or leave their current employer, according to research from Watson Wyatt.
Watson Wyatt's WorkUK Survey – conducted from a representative sample of 3,000 private sector workers in the UK – found that over 40 per cent of employees are actively considering finding a new job with a different employer, and nearly 80 per cent of employees believe work-life balance to be a very important consideration, if not the key consideration, in deciding to leave for a new job.
"A certain level of turnover can always be expected, indeed it is often perceived as healthy," said Jake Outram, a consultant at Watson Wyatt. "But while it is unlikely that all of the 40 per cent of employees considering changing jobs will actually do so, our research demonstrates that many employers may be neglecting a key factor affecting their employees' attitudes to staying in their positions. It is therefore important that employers understand how their employees, and in particular their high-performers, perceive their work-life balance.'
The Watson Wyatt research also found that the concern with work-life balance is not limited to employees within specific job levels. The response to this issue is almost identical for managers and non-managers.
"Although not a new issue, work-life balance has again been given prominence due to the ongoing debate on the EU working hours' directive," said Jake Outram. "Our research demonstrates the importance that employees place on achieving a sensible work-life balance, and it is evident that employers must focus on measuring the levels of work-life balance within their organisations to enable them to develop strategies that help employees to achieve a greater control over their working lives. This in turn will help organisations retain those staff who make the greatest contribution to their business."
For further information contact:
Bruce Wraight
+44 (0) 1737 273370
bruce.wraight@eu.watsonwyatt.com
Claire Barraclough
+44 (0) 1737 273390
claire.barraclough@eu.watsonwyatt.com
Visit Watson Wyatt's online press office:
www.watsonwyatt.com/europe/news/journalists.
Watson Wyatt Worldwide Watson Wyatt is a global consulting firm focusing on human capital and financial management. We specialise in employee benefits, human capital strategies, and insurance and financial services. We focus on combining human capital and financial expertise to deliver business solutions that drive shareholder value. Watson Wyatt has more than 6,000 associates in 88 offices around the world.
www.watsonwyatt.com   | 
