Employees are 4.1 times more likely to stay if their expectations are met: Qualtrics

However, there is a gap between the experience of senior leaders and their teams.

Workers in Singapore are 4.1 times likely to stay at work for longer and are four times more likely to “go above and beyond” if their expectations are met, according to a report by Qualtrics.

However, Qualtrics said there is a gap between the employee experiences of senior and executive leaders compared with the middle-managers and junior employees, as the senior leaders’ expectations are being met more, contributing to the talent retention woes.

In a report, Qualtrics found that 41% of senior and executive leaders said their expectations at work are being met, whilst only 26% of middle-manager and junior employees report the same.

The middle managers and junior employees also cited lower levels of engagement, interest to stay, well-being, and inclusion. Around 76% of senior and executive leaders said that they are paid fairly for their work, higher than only 59% of the other employees.

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Aside from this, 79% of the senior leaders reported that their career goals are being met at work, also higher than the only 58% of the middle-managers and junior employees. Growth and development are crucial for engagement and intent to stay, according to Qualtrics.

“There is a clear gap in the experience organisations think they’re delivering to their teams and what’s actually being provided, and failure to address it can have serious implications - from struggling to retain top talent, cultivating employee well-being, and maintaining productivity and performance,” said Lauren Huntington, Employee Experience Solution Strategist, Southeast Asia, Qualtrics. 

“Against the backdrop of increasing rates of burnout, financial stresses caused by the rising cost of living, and evolving employee needs, the Qualtrics findings must serve as a wake-up call for business and HR leaders in Singapore,” Huntington added.

To close the gap, Qualtrics said businesses should improve onboarding and enable new employees, and prioritise their growth and development. Firms should also have their employees believe in the company values and see it in practice as belief in organisational values are among the top drivers in all experience metrics including well-being, intent to stay, engagement, and inclusion.

They should also evolve the workplace technologies, processes, and resources to improve employee well-being and productivity. Addressing inefficient systems is a key driver to lower levels of well-being and burnout risks, it said.

Nearly 29,000 individuals across 27 countries were surveyed, 1,000 of which were from Singapore including 654 junior to manager-level employees, and 346 senior and executive leaders.