More “dissatisfied” executives
The vast majority of executives (80%) consider themselves “satisfied” with their professional situation. Nevertheless, the “dissatisfied” are more numerous this year (+6%) than last year. Discontent is also spreading among executives: while 22% remain “very satisfied” with their work, a stable figure compared to last year, executives who declared themselves to be “rather satisfied” (58%) have for some switched to dissatisfaction (20%).
Management and remuneration, the irritants of the dissatisfied
What do these 20% of executives dissatisfied ? Lack of meaning at work? The futility of their missions? Not really. They first cite management (27%) and remuneration (25%). Understand: I like my job but I don’t feel sufficiently recognized by my superiors nor paid enough.
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Hardship, a subject among executives
Another possible explanation: 20% of executives surveyed consider that they have a “painful” job. Put at the heart of the news with the pension reform, the subject of the arduous work does not therefore spare this category of employees, yet considered privileged. But what hardship are we talking about in executives? It is not physical but due above all to a heavy workload (28%) and stress (24%).
The hardship felt increases with the number of dependents (35% for managers with more than 20 people) and the time worked (45% among managers working 50 hours or more, i.e. almost twice as much as among people declaring work less than 35 hours).
Leaving is more rewarding than staying
The desire to move has returned to its 2018 level. Despite the economic difficulties, there are now as many executives who say they are open to opportunities (44%, +6pts vs. July 2022), as executives who wish to stay in their company ( 45%, – 6pts).
Unsurprisingly, the first candidates to leave are executives dissatisfied with their current professional situation (58%), but also those whose prospects may be more important: managers and wealthy categories. For them, changing company appears to be a more rewarding prospect than staying in place.
Conversely, older executives prefer to stay in their companies (57%).
Those who consult job offers are more numerous than last year (47% against 42% last year), and their searches are focused on their region.
The “boomerang” employee becomes trendy
The phenomenon of “boomerang employees” is gaining momentum if we are to believe the executives interviewed: 1 manager out of 10 (9%) declares having left and then returned to their company, while half of those who witnessed the return of one of their colleagues would be tempted to do so (52%).
It must be said that this decision makes it possible in particular to improve one’s financial situation according to 61% of respondents (82% among those who have done so).
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Work flexibility is an essential criterion
To attract and retain executives, it is necessary to make organizations and working hours more flexible, insist the executives.
Telework remains the element most favored by executives: 48% believe that it is a decisive element. 45% fully value a vision that puts people at the center, with a certain horizontality in decisions, and 43% believe that the 4-day week without loss of pay is a major asset. Support in the professional project is less appealing (33%).
* 22nd Cadremploi/Ifop barometer on executive morale: the survey was conducted among a sample of 1,002 people, representative of the executive population in the private sector (quota method). The interviews were carried out by self-administered online questionnaire from March 6 to 15, 2023.