New research by the Washington-based analytical company CEB has found that it is very important to people how successful they are compared to others, or compared to their expectations for a particular period of life.
- On the eve of company anniversaries or the transition to a current position, job search activity increases by 6 and 9 %, respectively.
- Birthdays – especially milestones such as 40 and 50 years. As employees enter a new decade, they evaluate their career path and, if they find themselves unhappy, they take action. People are 12% more likely to look for a new job before their birthday.
- Gathering people from the same circle can also be a catalyst – for example, classmate meetings: there you compare yourself with others. Job search activity increases by 16 per cent after meetings.
Timely diagnosis and prevention are far more effective in retaining hesitant employees than counter-offers to those who have already resigned. According to CEB, 50% of those who accept such counter-offers leave the company within a year anyway.
Strategies
Strategies are needed to maintain the match between older workers and their jobs as employability often declines with age. One strategy for older workers could be a voluntary change of employer, allowing workers to leave unsuitable employment and thereby actively adjust to unfavourable working conditions. This change can provide suitable working conditions and increase the ability to work longer into older working age.
A large number of studies on voluntary employer change have mainly focused on determinants such as job satisfaction, productivity, health, leadership skills, and work capacity. The focus on determinants – as opposed to outcomes – has often been linked to data limitations, allowing researchers to track employees before the change but not afterwards.
Research shows that a voluntary change of employer may preserve employability in older working age, but not increase employability in the long term. However, despite the presence of a hangover period, the positive overall effect of voluntary change should not be underestimated.