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4-1 Return to the workplace: What motivates workers in the post-covid era?

Back to the workplace: What motivates workers in the post-covid era?

ISON Psychometrica
Boyden Greece & Cyprus

Insights

Ideal working days per week

As it emerged from the survey conducted by ISON in collaboration with Boyden between September and October, employees, contrary to expectations, do not demand fully-remote work, but on the contrary, present different needs and preferences based on days spent in the workplace currently.
Employees capture their ideal work environment through their current employment situation, versus an idealized, unrealistic one. In particular, they want to work at the employer's premises one or two days less than they actually work.

stat-2 Return to work: What motivates workers in the post-covid era?

Here, the ideal working days (colored columns) are depicted in relation to the actual working days employees spend in the workplace.

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Which needs emerged as the most important?

76,7%

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Need for recognition. This refers to the individual's need for their work to be recognized by others

62,7%

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Need for power. This refers to the desire of the individual to exert influence and make important decisions

44,3%

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Need for selflessness. This refers to the provision of assistance in any context, work-related or not.

Image Back to work: What motivates workers in the post-covid era?

What motivates employees?

Of similar interest is the hierarchy of Values and Motivation, with results surprising and upsetting stereotypical perceptions and assumptions in the workplace.
Such an example is the emergence of mental and physical health initiatives as a more important incentive than the provision of grocery shop vouchers, a typical and frequently used corporate practice for rewarding and motivating employees.

The findings of the survey Not only do they shed light on the way in which employees perceive their place in the world of work, but they also give a unique perspective on the values and motivations that can potentially be (with the right combination)  success factors for creating a more attractive and conscious working environment.

img-2 Return to the workplace: What motivates workers in the post-covid era?

Research Framework

The advent of COVID-19 was a turning point for all parts of human living, including work.
The exponential growth of teleworking and hybrid work has created an immediate need for us to research and understand what this change means for the employee.
ISON Psychometrica and Boyden Greece & Cyprus conducted one of the first surveys in Greece on the role of motives and values in employees' return to their workplace.

Research Summary

Research Summary

The research involves three levels of analysis. In the first phase it provides demographic details of the participants to ensure the integrity of the survey and the its value as representative of the working reality in Greece. Secondly, it provides detailed Incentives (such as flexible working hours, extra days off and leisure activities) and Values (such as Goal-setting, Collectivity and Selflessness). Based of these, readers can understand in depth the needs of the Greek employee, with the ultimate goal of gaining valid insights on ways they should act to bring them back to the workplace. Finally, the report provides conclusions based on statistical analyses on all levels. For example, the categories of employees who arise from the interaction of motives and values are presented, and by extension, the ways that someone can motivate them to return to the company's workspace.

If you are interested in the full survey, please contact us

info@ison.gr

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