UK workers switch off whilst 19% look for new career

UK employees are choosing to “quit in seat”, whereby they decide to stay in their current job whilst mentally checking out, according to a new survey.

The study, conducted by advisory firm CEB, assessed over 18,000 employees worldwide, finding that just 19% of workers are taking an active role in looking for a new job. This correlates to staff applying for roles online, getting in touch with recruiters and sending out their CVs.

39% of British employees reported a strong intent to stay with their current employer, which is significantly higher than their international counterparts in Singapore (19%) ad China (23%). However, it falls below the mark in Germany at 45% and America at 48%.

Brian Kropp, HR Leader at CEB, commented on the results, saying: “Discretionary effort globally has now reached its lowest point in four years, meaning more people are choosing to switch off at work. Rather than ‘write off’ those people who are disengaged, business leaders need to be transparent about how employees can contribute to the future business strategy and exactly what is expected from them.”