Women More Likely to Feel Undervalued at Work, According to New Randstad US Survey

ATLANTA, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Just as data continues to suggest that, on average, women earn less than men for equal work, in a survey released today by Randstad US, only 57 percent of women felt that their salary was adequate for their position/level of responsibility compared to 65 percent of men.

The Q2 2013 Engagement Study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Randstad, examined the ethos of both men and women on a range of employee issues including perceived value. In addition to being more likely to feel undercompensated, more women than men felt that their current employer does not offer promotions or bonuses to high performing employees as a means of promoting employee engagement (22% of women vs. 27% of men), and only 49 percent of women compared to 54 percent of men thought they were likely to get a raise at the end of the year.

Other notable findings:

Value and Compensation Affect Employees' Attitudes Toward Employers

• Adequate compensation may contribute to men feeling more optimistic advancing within their organization, reflected by the fact that 31 percent of men surveyed think they will get promoted by the end of the year, compared to only 24 percent of women.  Additionally, 64 percent of men surveyed expect to grow their careers with their current employers compared with only 59 percent of women.

Women Value Relationships, Corporate Social Responsibility and Flexibility

• Nearly nine in 10 women agree that relationships with colleagues (88%) and direct supervisors (86%) have a big impact on how happy they are with their jobs.  While both men and women enjoy flex time, 93 percent of women whose employers offer a reduced schedule or flex time during the summer months say that this improves company morale and 81 percent agree they feel productivity increases because it. Seventy-four percent of women polled also said that it was important to them that their company invests in CSR efforts.

 Company Reputation More Important to Women when Seeking a New Job

• If they were considering taking a position with a new company, nearly nine-in-10 women (87%) say that a company having a good reputation among its employees as a good place to work would be important to them, compared to 83 percent of men.  Similarly, women were also more likely to say that the company's reputation in the community would also be important to them in a new employer (92% vs. 83% of men).

Survey Methodology
The Randstad Engagement Index is comprised of findings from quarterly waves of research targeting employees and annual surveys of employers. The seventh wave of findings was conducted online March 25-April 8, 2013 from a national sample of 3,282 adults aged 18 and older who are currently employed full time from Ipsos' U.S. online panel, including 1,789 men and 1,493 women. Weighting was used to balance demographics and ensure samples reflect the U.S. population of working adults.

Employees and employers were surveyed to compare notable differences in perceptions and attitudes. Multiple waves of research allow for trending and to track changes in perceptions and attitudes over time. Research into employee attitudes and perceptions will be conducted quarterly. Research into employer attitudes and perceptions will be conducted on an annual basis.

About Randstad US
Randstad is a $22.0 billion global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and has approximately 29,300 corporate employees and around 4,500 branches and inhouse locations in 39 countries around the world. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. Learn more at www.randstad.com and access Randstad's panoramic US thought leadership knowledge center through its Workforce360 site that offers valuable insight into the latest economic indicators and HR trends shaping the world of work.                                            

For more information and resources on employer branding, visit http://www.randstadusa.com/workforce360/employer-branding

SOURCE Randstad