15 December 2006

BRUSSELS - A poll by global recruitment company Monster shows that attitudes towards loyalties in the workplace have changed drastically in recent years, with employees becoming more opportunistic. 

Frequent Job-hopping and role changing within the company to improve career prospects are becoming the norm.

This rise in employee ambition is creating a need for employers to promote themselves as offering a challenging and developmental environment for choosy careerists.

The Monster Meter poll asked 24,932 European workers "Who do you feel most loyal to at work?"

The poll showed that with 32 percent of European workers are loyal to their team, while 33 percent feel loyal only to themselves. Only 10 percent felt loyal to the boss and 19 percent to the company.

Team spirit is particularly high amongst Belgians, with 39 percent of those responding to the poll saying that they feel most loyal to their team. This was closely followed by Irish workers on 37 percent, the French and Spanish, with 36 percent and the Swiss with 35 percent.

Only 7 percent those polled in Germany and 5 percent in Luxembourg declare they feel any kind of loyalty to their employers; in contrast as many as 21 percent of UK workers feeling loyal to their bosses.

"With so many new opportunities available, it’s not surprising that many people feel that their loyalties should lie with themselves," said Kai Deininger, Head of Marketing Communications, Monster Europe, who believes that employees think first of making the right career choices to suit their lifestyles, and then choose an employer to fit.

Austrians responding to the poll topped the list of those feeling loyal only unto themselves, with a percentage of 42, followed by workers in Poland in Luxembourg on 39 percent, Dutch workers at 35 percent and Irish workers on 34 percent.

"As an individual’s lifestyle changes, so do their requirements for a perfect job, so it’s symptomatic of an enterprising workforce to see that the majority of those polled were interested in their own needs, rather than those of their organisation." said Deininger.

The results of this Monster Meter are based on votes cast by Monster.com visitors from 2nd October to 5th November.

Source: http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/180989.html