New research by Sona has found that 41 per cent of care sector workers have left a previous role due to a lack of appreciation.
The workforce software company’s research also found that a further 31 per cent of workers said they had seriously considered quitting their current role.
The results of the Appreciation Matters: Why social care needs a new culture of employee recognition report, based on a survey of 500 UK social and health care employees, highlights what Sona calls a ‘worrying expectations-perceptions gap’. Other findings include:
- More than one in five said they rarely feel appreciated at work.
- 77 per cent of respondents said receiving recognition from their employer is important, but just 21 per cent said this happens regularly.
- Almost half (47 per cent) said they see significant disparities between how different individuals and teams are praised or rewarded within their organisation.
Many staff said they do not praise colleagues more often because it makes them feel ‘awkward’. When it comes to barriers preventing staff from recognising their colleagues, ‘awkwardness’ was the top reason cited (30 per cent), followed by ‘not being aware of others’ work’ (26 per cent), ‘ineffective communication channels’ (21 per cent) and ‘lack of time’ (21 per cent).
Sona co-founder Oli Johnson said: "Recognition is one of the highest impact, lowest cost retention strategies of all. Employee recognition programmes are no longer a 'nice-to-have' – they are a must. The business case has never been stronger. But these initiatives must be matched by a commitment to embed appreciation as part of your core values.
“That’s why we talk in the report about building a culture of recognition, because it won’t happen overnight. Those who focus on consistency will give themselves the best chance of success over the long term.”
Appreciation Matters: Why social care needs a new culture of employee recognition is available to download for free at https://www.getsona.com/appreciation
