…with 94% of the respondents in a recent survey by accounting firm Ernst Young, saying it is the primary factor tha impacts their decision to stay or leave their current employer… up from 92% in 2022.
When asked what defines workplace culture professionals said…
- How people treat each other – 29%
- Leadership and management style – 21%
- Work environment – 21%
- Mission and values in action – 15%
- Perception of career growth – 12%.
Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials — 48% and 47%, respectively — said they want to work for companies that reflect their values, compared with 44% of all professionals.
Other interesting findings.
- Pay is a weaker motivator for Gen Z, with 57% ranking compensation and 37% ranking benefits as top factors, compared with 74% and 41%, respectively, among older generations
- 42% of professionals said some form of hybrid work (flexible or fixed) would be among their top priorities when accepting a new role but define flexibility differently depending on generation
- Gen Z respondents = taking personal days or time off without negative impacts
- Millennials = flexible working hours
- Gen X = ability to schedule for personal or family needs
- Baby boomers = autonomy in how they organize and prioritize work
- Overall, 22% of all professionals, including 30% of millennials, plan to leave their company within the next year due to values misalignment
- While learning and development is a priority for all generations, only 36% believe their employer is investing in their growth
The 2025 EY USGeneration Survey was conducted from June 20 to July 22 and included 5,000 US white-collar workers aged 21 to 79 who were employed full-time at organizations with 5,000 employees or more.
