46% global workers are considering leaving their employers this year, finds survey

A Microsoft survey recently revealed that about 46 per cent of global workers are considering leaving their employers this year. The survey found that the majority of workers are struggling or just surviving in pandemic work conditions. Microsoft's Work Trend Index also revealed that around 61 per cent of employers feel that they are “thriving” - that is 23 per cent higher than the average worker. 

Microsoft polled 30,000 people from a variety of companies in 31 countries and used trillions of data points around labour and productivity from Microsoft’s 365 software and LinkedIn network. As per the survey, a total of 46 per cent of respondents said that they are planning to move to a new location this year, a reflection of the greater flexibility to work from home. 41 per cent of those surveyed also said that they are mulling leaving their jobs. The data also found that 54 per cent of workers said that they are overworked and 39 per cent said that they are exhausted. 

(Image: Microsoft/Website)

‘Humans perform better on schedule’ 

The survey said people “now more than ever” expect their employers and leaders to show empathy, given the “unique challenges”. Employees who claimed that they are struggling included married folks, working moms, Generation Z, frontline employees, workers who recently joined their jobs and single people. Microsoft revealed that working mothers are negatively impacted, many of whom have had to leave their jobs owing to new social arrangement put in place by the pandemic. 

Further, 73 per cent of the surveyed employees claimed that they endorse flexible working hours and remote working. 67 per cent, on the other hand, said that they want to return to the pre-COVID mode of working from the office. The survey also found that time spent in Teams meetings has more than doubled and keeps rising. Microsoft vice president Jared Spataro said that there is a feeling that all of a sudden the boundaries are gone, but he also added that he thinks that it is important for people to recognise that “humans perform better on schedule”. 

Spataro said, "Those impromptu encounters at the office help keep leaders honest. With remote work, there are fewer chances to ask employees, “Hey, how are you?” and then pick up on important cues as they respond. But the data is clear: our people are struggling. And we need to find new ways to help them". 

(Rep image: Unsplash)