Employees say they primarily stay with their jobs because of the right work-life fit and career enjoyment while fewer employees report remaining with their job for concrete reasons, such as benefits, pay and lack of other job opportunities, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association.
In fact, 60 percent of respondents say they stay at their jobs because of benefits, and 59 percent of respondents say pay keeps them; however, 67 percent of respondents say they stay because their work-life fit and job enjoyment. Only 39 percent of respondents say few job opportunities keeps them at their careers, despite the economy.
"Americans spend a majority of their waking hours at work, and as such, they want to have harmony between their job demands and the other parts of their lives," says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program. "To engage the work force and remain competitive, it's no longer sufficient to focus solely on benefits. Today, top employers create an environment where employees feel connected to the organization and have a positive work experience that's part of a rich, fulfilling life."
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Additionally, the survey finds that female respondents are more likely than male respondents to stay with their jobs because of co-workers at 55 percent versus 48 percent, their managers at 46 percent versus 34 percent and their organizational connections at 59 percent versus 53 percent. These figures have smaller variations between female respondents and male respondents when it comes to staying because of benefits at 61 percent versus 59 percent, pay at 57 percent versus 62 percent and the chance to make a difference at 49 percent versus 52 percent.
For respondents age 55 and older, they are most likely to stay with their employers because they enjoy the work at 80 percent, work-life fit at 76 percent, benefits at 66 percent, feeling connected to the organization at 63 percent and having an opportunity to make a difference at 57 percent. Respondents ages 18-34 are least likely to report enjoying the work at 58 percent, work-life fit at 61 percent and benefits at 54 percent as reasons to stay with their employers, but they are also most likely to stay because of co-workers at 57 percent and managers at 46 percent.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents ages 35-44 say pay is why they stay with their employers, which is higher than in any other age group.
Of the respondents who say they intend to stay with their current employers for more than two years, the primary factors include enjoying the work, having a job that fits well with other life demands and feeling connected to the organization.
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