One in five workers feels underappreciated and two-thirds are eying a job move
One in five Irish workers feels underappreciated in their current position,
employee benefits consultants
,
Aon
has said. But a more significant two-thirds of those who responded to its Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study said they were considering changing jobs in the next 12 months.
The study of more than 9,000 employees across 17 industries and 23 countries, including Ireland, looks to identify the workforce initiatives that are most valuable to professionals in a competitive market for talent.
Aon said one way of better engaging their staff is to reassess the benefits they offer.
The most valued benefit from Irish respondents to the survey was paid time off – eg better holiday arrangements. After that, the benefits most valued were company contributions to a
pension
, medical insurance, work/life balance and remote/flexible work arrangements.
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Globally, medical work/life balance ranked second only to medical cover and before pay, career development and retirement benefits.
The good news for employers is that 54 per cent of Irish employees believe their compensation is fair compared to similar roles in their industry. However, one in five believes there is still a gender pay gap in their organisation.
The 67 per cent of Irish workers looking at changing jobs is noticeably ahead of the 60 per cent figure across the global report.
In Ireland, results show that younger Generation Y workers – those born between 1981 and 1996 – rank paid time off as the most valuable benefit, while for older Generation X colleagues born between 1965 and 1980, retirement savings are considered the top benefit.
'Our results show that employees are putting an increased focus on meaningful benefits such as paid time off and flexible working in the workplace,' said Aon's head of human capital in Ireland Mairead O'Mahony. 'As employee expectations evolve, personalising benefits programmes can better support employers to meet the needs of an increasingly multigenerational workforce.
She said the results of Aon's survey show that 66 per cent of employees would be willing to compromise on existing benefits for a better choice of benefits.
In terms of career development, the report says that just over a quarter of Irish employees say their employer does not offer sufficient upskilling and training.
Just three in 10 workers are engaged in developing new skills to support and enhance their role.
One in five employees is unsure of the impact of
artificial intelligence
(AI) on their jobs, indicating a growing need for greater communication and engagement around the use of automation and AI in the workplace, Aon said.
However, globally, there is limited enthusiasm to enhance artificial intelligence skills, with just over a third of those who took part in the survey feeling compelled to adapt to this new technology.
'Organisations are only as strong as their people. As firms face heightened volatility this year, their success will depend on developing an agile and resilient workforce fit for the future,' said Ms O'Mahony.
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Estoesta responded by saying the crew have families and 'don't like problems'. 'We don't like problems either,' the commander responded. 'We want you to comply with our instructions.' [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] The Naval Service considered using the deck-mounted gun to fire on the MV Matthew but paused when they learned the Army rangers were on their way. Estoesta reported the warning shots to Dubai and was initially told to keep the drugs on board and 'go full speed'. As it became clear the naval vessel was not letting them go, the order came to put the drugs in a lifeboat, set them on fire and head for Sierra Leone in west Africa. 'We don't want a single dollar profit ... we don't want you to go to jail for nothing,' came the message from Dubai. They told Estoesta to stay calm. There was, they said, 'no helicopter, no commando, be confident, there is a law preventing them boarding the ship'. 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[ Irish Army rangers risked their lives in boarding cargo ship carrying cocaine, court hears Opens in new window ] Eight men now face lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the attempted shipment of €157 million worth of cocaine across the Atlantic. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (33); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (52) and Saeid Hassani (40); Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50) have pleaded guilty to charges that between September 24th and 26th, 2023, at locations outside the State, on board the MV Matthew they possessed cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK have pleaded guilty that between September 21st and 25th, 2023 they attempted to possess cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The operation to intercept the shipment was part of a transnational effort targeting international criminal organisations, Det Supt Halley told the court this week. Several people of interest remain under investigation. [ How cocaine became Ireland's biggest drug problem Opens in new window ] Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Gráinne Malone, in the Special Criminal Court will deliver the men's sentences on July 4th.
