Companies struggling to retain top talent may want to consider their sustainability practices, as more employees prefer to work with companies that practice corporate sustainability.
Key Details
- A Deloitte survey of retail employees revealed that those who work for companies with successful sustainability programs are more likely to stay at the company than those who work at businesses with poor sustainability programs.
- Employees at these sustainable companies also seem to have greater engagement and satisfaction than workers at other businesses.
- Around 85% of respondents who work for sustainable businesses say the work “gives them a sense of accomplishment,” and another 84% say they are “inspired by the company’s vision and values.”
- That added benefit of personal fulfillment for the employee can be the difference between high employee turnover and workers who stick around.
Why it’s news
In a competitive labor market, it can be advantageous for companies to make themselves stand out to job seekers and encourage current employees to remain. Sustainability practices are increasingly more important to the general public, and employees will prefer to work for companies that support these ideals.
Most (80%) of the retail workers surveyed say that environmental issues were a priority, and they want companies to do more to address them. Employees working for companies that have strong sustainability programs tend to be more concerned about environmental impact. Around 82% of these workers also tend to be more sustainable in their personal habits. Comparatively, only 42% of workers at companies with weak sustainability programs practice environmentally conscious habits outside of work.
Employees at sustainable companies are twice as likely to refer friends and family for available positions at work.
However, companies that promote sustainability should ensure this mindset extends throughout the company. Authenticity and action on these issues matter to employees, not just words.
While many companies with sustainability practices emphasize these programs to senior managers, only about 59% of nonsupervisory employees said they fully understood their organization’s sustainability goals. Company leaders should ensure that the sustainability vision is understood and enforced company-wide.