Three-quarters of Canadians stand by loyalty in the workplace

But, new Monster survey reveals 40 per cent have had four or more employers since graduation

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2016 /CNW/- Do Canadians practice what they preach when it comes to loyalty in the workplace? A recent survey from Monster Canada found that three-quarters of Canadians (74 per cent) believe it is helpful for their career to stay loyal to one employer. However, on average four-in-10 Canadians have had at least four employers since graduation.  

"Loyalty is a two-way street in the workplace," says Sheryl Boswell, Director of Marketing, Monster Canada. "Both employees and employers need to show commitment to one another. While loyalty is viewed as something that could be helpful to Canadians' careers, it isn't always practiced."

Putting a number on loyalty
The survey, conducted by Leger, found that Canadians are mostly split on the ideal length of time to stay at one employer. Nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) believe that 10 years or less is the right amount. On the other hand, four-in-ten (39 per cent) say staying for more than 10 years is ideal.

More than half of millennials (57 per cent) believe that the appropriate length of time at one employer is six years or less. While, more than half (51 per cent) of those aged 55-64 believe that the perfect length of time is more than 10 years.

"Putting an expiry date on a job is hard to pinpoint," says Boswell. "The definition of employee loyalty clearly evolves throughout one's career. For someone who has only been in the workforce for a few years, a decade can seem like a long time to commit to one employer, whereas someone nearing the end of their career might view 10 years as a far more suitable time."

Does age matter?
The majority of millennials (75 per cent) polled say that staying loyal to one employer is helpful in their career. That age group is also the most likely to have had only one- to-two employers (41 per cent).

As for those who are nearing the end of their career, 20 per cent of Canadians 55 years and older report only having had one to two employers, but this number increases among older Gen Xers, with 30 per cent of those aged 45-54 having had six or more employers.

"It appears Gen Xers are paving the way for millennials when it comes to career advancement decisions," says Boswell. "This might be indicative of how employers are now showing loyalty to their employees. Now, employees may not find all that their looking for with only one employer. Getting the most out of a role and moving on to discover new opportunities may be necessary."

Some question if loyalty at work works
Canadians in the younger half of the Gen X age category (35-44 years old) are the most likely to see employer loyalty as harmful to their career (22 per cent). Loyalty may not always be seen as a positive tactic by men, who are more likely than women to believe loyalty is harmful to their career (18 per cent compared to 14 per cent).

Regionally, one-in-five Ontarians (19 per cent) and British Columbians (20 per cent) believe loyalty is harmful.

"There are many reasons why loyalty in the workplace may not be important for all Canadians and they might hunt for jobs for a variety of reasons," says Boswell. "Employees may be juggling more than one job to make ends meet, or perhaps the work culture just doesn't put an emphasis on it. Overall, these survey results show that Canadians continue to look for jobs that reflect their desire for loyalty as they seek ways to find better in their careers."

For more job search tips or advice on how to find better in your professional life, visit career-advice.monster.ca. 

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) is a global leader in connecting people to jobs, wherever they are. For more than 20 years, Monster has helped people improve their lives with better jobs, and employers find the best talent. Today, the company offers services in more than 40 countries, providing some of the broadest, most sophisticated job seeking, career management, recruitment and talent management capabilities. Monster continues its pioneering work of transforming the recruiting industry with advanced technology using intelligent digital, social and mobile solutions, including our flagship website monster.com® and a vast array of products and services. For more information visit http://monster.com/about.

About the Survey
Leger conducted a quantitative online survey of 1,536 Canadians. The fieldwork was completed between September 12-15, 2016. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.  

SOURCE Monster Canada

Jennifer Williamson, [email protected], 416-969-2826