Emotional support of employees by employers is guaranteed
In this year since the coronavirus outbreak, the damage to the world of work has been enormous. Billions of people are facing existing or new restrictions. And companies around the world are being forced to work in new and challenging ways. Even the most resilient among us are feeling the stress of the pandemic. Yet, workers are finding emotional support from their employers.
The latest Randstad Labor Barometer - which collected data in 34 countries - shows that while most respondents are resilient, they are also concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and their future.
Great emotional support of the employees
Worldwide, a clear majority (71 %) feel emotionally supported by their employer during the pandemic. In contrast, only 66 % of employees in Switzerland say that they receive emotional support from their company. Taco de Vries, CEO Randstad (Switzerland) AG, sees two main reasons for this result: "On the one hand, employers in Switzerland probably play a much less central role in the lives of employees than, for example, in the Asian region. On the other hand, it seems to me that the emotional attachment to the employer is deeper in stable labor markets than in uncertain markets."
In just one year, the balance of power has shifted from workers who had low unemployment rates prior to COVID-19 to employers who now have a larger pool of active job seekers to choose from. Even among those who currently have a job, there is concern about being laid off. These fears are not likely to go away anytime soon. Many of the problems disrupting the global labor market will remain for months to come as the global economy tries to recover during an uncertain time.
Ability to adapt to digitization is not a question of technology
Globally, 79 % of employees feel that they have the necessary equipment and technology to adapt to digitization. In Switzerland, this figure is only slightly lower at 77 %. At the same time, however, a global average of 40 % say they have difficulty learning the skills required in this new digital age. Employees in Switzerland find this somewhat easier. Only 36 % say they have difficulty learning new, digital skills.
The rapid introduction of new technologies has led to employees becoming more concerned about their employability. This - along with the pandemic - is another important reason why job security is top of mind for many. In order to remain employed in their company, 30 % worldwide say they would be willing to accept a different role in the company. In Switzerland, the number is as high as 33 % who would be willing to accept a new orientation within the company. A reorientation within the company is the preferred option for employees in Europe in order to secure their jobs, followed by a temporary reduction in working hours. Employees outside Europe, on the other hand, show a greater willingness to work more without a salary increase.
Requirement for jobs according to COVID-19
While job security is undoubtedly important during Corona, Randstad's data interestingly shows that workers are not overly concerned about their jobs in the future. That's because only one-third of respondents said they wanted more job security after the pandemic.
Many workers believe that companies may still struggle to find the right talent, even in times of higher unemployment. What is certain is that many of the skills that companies needed before the pandemic are still in high demand. Some talents will become even more important because of the digitalization accelerated by the pandemic.
Source: Randstad
