IOSH Survey – Flexible working up, corporate purpose down
An IOSH survey of more than 2,700 health and safety practitioners’ pay and conditions has revealed that – beyond salary – it is flexible working that is most highly prized by OSH workers.
When asked to choose up to three of the most motivating factors at work from a prescribed list, 63.6% of respondents chose salary, with 45.4% opting for flexible/hybrid working. Third in the rankings was job security at 44%, with management style/culture not far behind at 41.4%.
This preference for flexible working fits in with generally-accepted trends of modern workers’ requirements. However, there was one surprise. While studies have consistently noted how important it is for employees to work for organisations with a purpose beyond just generating profit, that issue was not highly rated by the IOSH survey respondents. Organisational purpose was the least frequently specified motivational element – chosen by just 18%.
Perhaps even more surprisingly, that figure was evenly spread across the age groups with no particular spike among younger workers, who are typically seen as being more ideologically-driven.
Another issue low in respondents’ choices of motivational factors was training and development at 19.5%. That said, 10.8% of respondents also mentioned that safety practitioners at their workplaces are incentivised by their employer to gain IOSH Chartered Member status, most commonly with a pay rise.
Other benefits
When it comes to the practical implementation of flexible working, 62% of respondents said they do currently have the option of hybrid working or flexible hours. Although there are no figures for this provision before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is fair to assume that percentage would have been far lower before 2020.
In terms of other non-salary benefits received by survey participants, those who have access to a company pension scheme most commonly reported money purchase pensions, where the money they receive in retirement is dictated by variations in the financial markets. Final salary arrangements, which pay a predictable income based on years worked with an organisation, are only accessible to 18% of – mostly older – respondents.
Around one in six of private-sector respondents said they can buy shares in their company on tax-friendly terms. Just over a quarter of respondents have access to a company car. And only a few respondents mentioned private medical insurance. For 9.8% of those surveyed, there is no entitlement to any of the benefits listed.
Nicole Rinaldi, IOSH director of professional services, said: ‘I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to complete this survey. I recognise it takes time out of your day but the results are very important to us as we continue to explore new ways of supporting and building the profession.’
Read more about the survey results in depth here.
And if you are looking for a new role that is a better fit with your professional expectations and motivations – and might even come with enhanced employee benefits – check out our latest jobs listings.