Would you fess up to being fired? New LinkedIn study finds 62 per cent of Canadian millennials wouldn't

New Norms @Work also reveals 9-5 work day has fallen out of favour in Canada

TORONTO, April 29, 2015 /CNW/ - Is honesty the best policy for professionals who have been fired from a job? According to LinkedIn's New Norms @Work study, Canadian workers generally think not. Over half (56 per cent) of Canadian respondents reported they wouldn't be completely honest about being fired, with millennials ages 25-34 least likely to be honest at 62 per cent. The global LinkedIn study illustrates how Canadian full-time working professionals shape their professional brands for the modern workplace both online and on the job. It also shines a light on Canadians' changing work values, with 50 per cent of respondents stating all companies should offer flexible work schedules.

"The results from LinkedIn's New Norms @Work study show that as workplace norms and what professionals expect from their employers evolve, Canadians' professional brands have become more important than ever before," said Kathleen Kahlon, communications lead, LinkedIn Canada. "Whether it's how you dress, how much you reveal about your employment history, or how often you update your profile photo, the decisions you make about your professional brand online and in-person can all impact your career."

Dressing the Part @Work

While many workplaces have implemented more liberal and casual dress codes, professionals still dress to impress. Seven per cent of Canadians are spending as much time getting ready for work as they do for a night out on the town, and 30 per cent of Canadian working women believe they get judged more for what they wear at work. Men, however, tend to look for a more prescriptive approach than their female counterparts and prefer an environment that dictates attire. Eight per cent of men compared with four per cent of women wish their office had a dress code. Regardless of gender, the study shows that workers today are mindful of their appearance and how it parlays to their professional brand, and more than half (53 per cent) of Canadian professionals keep dual wardrobes for work and play.

Your Voice @Work

Whether or not you consider yourself a "yes employee"— someone who does as they are told and is more apt not to question authority – varies from generation to generation. Canadian Millennials are most likely to characterize themselves this way – 70 per cent of workers aged 18-24 indeed consider themselves "yes employees."

The Truth @Work

A pristine professional brand is extremely important to today's professionals. According to the LinkedIn study, employees will go to great lengths to protect their reputations, even if it means being dishonest. Millennials are the most tight-lipped, with 62 per cent of Canadian workers ages 25-34 reporting that if they were fired they would not be honest about it.

Perks @Work

Canadians want progressive workplaces that offer more than the standard benefits package. According to the study, we're over the 9-5 work day, with more than 50 per cent of those surveyed stating that all companies should offer flexible work schedules. Maternity leave top-up was also a top priority, particularly in Quebec, with almost 30 per cent of respondents stating that this practice should be mandatory. Ontarians, on the other hand, were less adamant, with only 17 per cent in agreement.

Say Cheese @Work

In today's digital age, your profile photo is oftentimes your chance for a first impression.  Professionals on LinkedIn working in recruiting, fashion, luxury goods and hospitality tend to change their profile pictures more often than average. Not surprisingly, millennials change their pictures more often, making them the most viewed demographic on LinkedIn.

New Norms @Work: Worldwide

A global comparison of the 19 countries that participated in the study finds that the value placed on one's professional brand is similar from country to country with some differences across markets:

• Globally, more than a quarter of professionals reported feeling motivated when their colleagues discuss workplace successes. 
• Across markets, one quarter of all respondents agreed that women get judged more for what they wear at work.
• Professionals are speaking up globally. When asked the one thing they would do now compared to when they started their careers, over half of professionals worldwide reported that they would challenge their boss by voicing their opinion, challenging ideas, etc.

LinkedIn encourages professionals worldwide to join the New Norms @Work conversation by sharing their #WorkSelfie on LinkedIn and across social media channels. Visit  http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/04/29/how-to-succeed-with-the-new-norms-work/ for tips on how to take a great work selfie and to learn more about the LinkedIn New Norms @Work global study.

About 'New Norms @Work' Study by LinkedIn and Censuswide

In April 2015 LinkedIn partnered with Censuswide to survey more than 15,000 full-time professionals around the world. Respondents between the ages of 18-66+ were surveyed in 19 countries including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, to unearth unexpected mainstays in office culture and gain a better understanding of how full-time working professionals view themselves today and are reshaping their professional brand for the modern workplace.

About LinkedIn
LinkedIn connects the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the ways companies hire, market and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through ongoing development of the world's first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has more than 347 million members and has offices around the world.

SOURCE LinkedIn

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