Workers have lower expectations for coming year
Published: 15 March 2009
The temporary agency work company Adecco [1] has carried out research on how the current economic framework is affecting labour expectations of Spanish workers for 2009. The survey was conducted among 500 Spanish employees and its results were published in December 2008. The study, entitled ‘What would you want for Christmas from your company?’ (¿Qué le pedirías a tu empresa por Navidad? (129Kb PDF) [2]), was also extended to workers’ main labour-related wishes and expectations for 2009 and aimed to identify these.[1] http://www.adecco.com/Channels/adeccoNewVI/home/home1.asp[2] http://www.adecco.es/_data/NotasPrensa/pdf/115.pdf
A survey by the recruitment agency Adecco on workers’ expectations for 2009 reveals that 46.6% of Spanish workers think that the best work improvement would be a pay rise (although only 10.6% believe that they will get one), followed by flexible working hours (19.9%), and education and training (15.7%). Furthermore, employees’ commitment to the company is stronger than in the previous year, with punctuality being the top priority for workers in 2009.
The temporary agency work company Adecco has carried out research on how the current economic framework is affecting labour expectations of Spanish workers for 2009. The survey was conducted among 500 Spanish employees and its results were published in December 2008. The study, entitled ‘What would you want for Christmas from your company?’ (¿Qué le pedirías a tu empresa por Navidad? (129Kb PDF)), was also extended to workers’ main labour-related wishes and expectations for 2009 and aimed to identify these.
Preferred improvement
Almost half of the 500 participants (46.6%) in the survey consider that the best improvement at work in 2009 would be a pay rise. Furthermore, 19.9% of the employees think that flexible working hours is their most preferred change, whereas 15.7% believe that education and training is the best work improvement they could expect this year. In addition, two other improvements are also ranked among the most preferred changes at work: being promoted (10.6%) and receiving social benefits from the company such as meal vouchers and health insurance (7.2%) (see figure).
Most preferred labour improvements for 2009 (%)
Note: * Only 10.6% of workers believe that they will get a pay rise.
Source: Adecco, ¿Qué le pedirías a tu empresa por Navidad?, 2008
Most preferred labour improvements for 2009 (%)
Salary expectations
Although almost half of the survey participants state that the best improvement they would like to receive from their companies would be a higher salary in 2009, only 10.6% of them believe that this will really happen. On the other hand, 59.3% of respondents consider that the company will not offer a pay rise.
Among those workers who can negotiate their salary, 45% reveal that they would ask for a pay rise depending on the company’s objectives and 30% would accept to maintain their current salary until the economy recovers from the current downturn. Only 25% of respondents would ask for a higher salary at all costs, without considering the specific circumstances of their employer.
Company commitment
More than half of those surveyed stated that they are not interested in looking for a new job, which illustrates again the concern about the current economic situation in Spain, as it is not the best time to make a career change.
Furthermore, the research shows that, during times of crisis, workers’ commitment to their company becomes stronger than in periods of prosperity. Thus, workers’ main priorities for 2009 are in favour of their company, including: punctuality (76%), monitoring or considering more seriously the business situation (74.2%) and getting more involved in company issues (71.2%). These results are remarkable compared with those of the previous survey in 2007, when these attitudes were indicated as the lowest priorities for workers, while the highest ones were comradeship and appreciation of their managers’ work.
Commentary
The research reveals that the decrease in companies’ turnover has resulted in workers reducing their expectations of their employer in comparison with the previous year, when the growing economy had a different effect on workers’ responses. The current difficult economic conditions are having a clear influence on salary prospects. Many workers, understanding the difficulties associated with getting a pay rise, believe that enterprises could offer other social benefits as an alternative, with a lower impact on company costs.
Jessica Duran, IKEI
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2009), Workers have lower expectations for coming year, article.
