Workers now look for ‘perfect match’ with employers based on values

Ricoh Europe, 15 May 2019 – Today’s workforce is more united than ever in its demand for a seismic change in the way we all conduct business in the future. It’s no longer enough to measure just financial success, with employees from across the generations* calling on businesses to be a force for good and drive positive change in the world. 

The reason? The line between our personal and professional worlds is blurring as technology frees us from the traditional 9-5 office set-up. The choice of our profession and how we decide to work is increasingly becoming a defining factor of who we are as individuals. This is driving employees of all ages to question if their employer is a perfect match in terms of their own vision and values.

David Mills, CEO of Ricoh Europe, says: “In an era of otherwise polarised views, our research reveals that employees are united in their demand that businesses be held to higher moral and ethical standards. We’re seeing a greater understanding that no action is too small to contribute to the bigger picture and therefore a realisation that the collective impact businesses can have will be significant to ensuring a better future for generations to come.”

New research commissioned by Ricoh Europe¹ reveal that: 

• 64% of workers agree sustainability needs to be at the centre of business and product strategies in the next five to ten years
• An average of 65% across all generations believe in their company’s values and ideals 
• Employees are personally invested in their workplaces, with an average of 59% across all generations viewing their work as a key factor in defining who they are as a person
• An average of 63% across all generations think the way the world does business will change dramatically in the next five to ten years

Employees also believe the role of a responsible employer should include upskilling a digital workforce and innovating in their sectors. Workers see new technologies as vital in driving this change, with 63% agreeing technology should play a central role in helping them work to the best of their abilities. Meanwhile, 69% believe that the best workplaces invest in digital technologies for upskilling staff.

Mills adds: “It’s not just the younger generations who want businesses to act. We’re seeing all age groups coming together with a collective demand to incorporate more sustainable and responsible working practices. This involves operating in harmony with the environment, demonstrating respect for your people as well as the wider societies in which a business operates. At Ricoh, we’re doing this by embracing and taking action to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including a commitment to reducing our CO₂ emissions to zero by 2050. As business leaders, we have a duty to listen to our workforce and we’re hearing them loud and clear when it comes to the bigger picture.”

Find out more at www.ricoh-europe.com/thoughtleadership.

*For reference, generations were defined by year of birth as below: 

• Baby Boomers: 1946 – 1964 
• Generation X: 1965 – 1980 
• Generation Y: 1981 – 1995 
• Generation Z: 1996 – Today

¹Research stats are based on a survey of 4580 office-based employees across 24 EMEA countries conducted by Coleman Parkes and commissioned by Ricoh Europe.