Revealed: 34% of UK workers would turn down job聽from a company with poor sustainability or environmental credentials.
Ethical Career Choices
A third (34%) of white-collar professionals in the UK state that they would turn down a job offer if a company鈥檚 environmental, sustainability or climate control values do not align with their own.
These employees place a company鈥檚 green values above what an employer does from a political (29%), charitable (27%), or social affairs (21%) standpoint.
ESG Report
The findings come from a global survey and upcoming聽ESG Report聽by recruiter Robert Walters, as global leaders gather in Glasgow for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
According to the global survey of over 7,000 professionals, 51% of UK employees state that it is important to them that a company鈥檚 social and political values align with their own.
The UK ranks 13th聽in the world where employees would base their future employment decisions off a company鈥檚 sustainability agenda. Top of the list are France, Chile, and Switzerland 鈥� where over half of professionals would turn down a job offer if the company鈥檚 green credentials did not meet their personal expectations.
Chris Poole, Managing Director of Robert Walters UK comments:
鈥淲e have certainly entered a new era of recruiting 鈥� whilst all the normal questions still do get asked around pay, benefits, training and career paths, increasingly we get asked 鈥榳hat does X company stand for.鈥�
鈥淲hen offered a potential new role; job searchers are quick to jump onto a firms social media handles, their 鈥榓bout us鈥� page, and most importantly googling latest news articles aligned to the company.
鈥淓mployers failing to improve on their sustainability credentials should expect to see a knock-on impact to their hiring. With their being so many avenues to being environmentally conscious as an employer there simply isn鈥檛 much room to ignore the matter.
Millennials Driving Company-Decisions
When breaking down the figures by age, it is Generation Z (18-24yrs) and Baby Boomers (55-73yrs) who appear to be the most concerned about whether their employer is doing their bit to tackle climate control. Half of professionals within these age cohorts stated that it is important a company鈥檚 green values align with their own.
Interestingly of all the age groups it was millennials (21%) who are least bothered about their employer鈥檚 impact on the environment 鈥� where they place mental health (62%), workers鈥� rights (62%), diversity & inclusion (52%), and income gap (41%) higher up on their agenda.
Chris adds:聽鈥淎s a workforce strategy, ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) has become a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent.
鈥淚n fact, numerous studies by Robert Walters have shown that, when weighing up potential employers, millennials are hugely influenced by how a business responds to and tackles social issues.
鈥淲ith millennials making up the largest part of leadership roles, they will be doing a great deal to stay in tune with employees鈥� concerns. And from the recent Extinction Rebellion protests, the UN Climate Change Report, statements from high profile celebrities, royals and politicians, and COP26 it seems environment will remain the topic of discussion amongst employees for some time.鈥�
