One in three socially responsible workers are contemplating moving away from private sector jobs, as over 70% of employees value corporate responsibility programmes.

While over 60% of 18-25 year olds hanker after more worthwhile work, according to a new online study from workplace communications consultancy CHA that surveyed over 1,500 employees in organisations with 500 or more staff.

Colette Hill, chief executive of CHA:

Private companies are witnessing a damaging brain drain to the public and charity sectors. The younger the worker, the more likely they are to consider crossing over spurred on by what they see as socially or environmentally more valuable work.

Over 40% of 18-25 year olds interrogated for the study, Worthwhile Work, say they are considering a move into the public or charity sectors as do 38% of 26 to 35-year olds. The study calls on private sector employers to be clearer about profitable business’s wider benefit to society in delivering goods and services as well as in contributing to the exchequer.

The study’s main findings are:

• Almost half of respondents say they hanker after a job that is more worthwhile than they one they have at the moment. Clearly, employers are failing to communicate the beneficial purpose of their organisation and the role of individual employees in helping them to achieve that purpose.

• In choosing a career, the priorities for employees under 35 are twofold - contributing to society and a job they can do well. For 26-35 year olds a third important ingredient is a job they can be proud of for their own sake. For their younger colleagues salary comes third.

• Over 70% of respondents say that private companies’ efforts on climate change and social responsibility help strengthen their reputation. Top of the corporate responsibility list come local community support followed by reducing impact on climate change. Corporate donations to charity trail a poor third.

• Over all, a third of employees working in the private sector are contemplating a move into the public or charity sectors – half of those intending to do so in the next five years.

• The consolation for the private sector is that there will be some reverse migration. Almost a quarter of those working in the public or charity sectors plan to move into the private sector in search of higher salaries and less red tape.

The study builds on the findings of the National Centre for Social Research survey, published in January, which found a growing public service ethos among workers in the public sector.

Today’s employees are strongly motivated by the conviction that their work is valuable and that it contributes to the greater good. The private sector is a massive contributor to that greater good but is not getting the message across clearly enough. It needs to win back the high ground, especially among younger workers who are very strongly motivated by environmental and CR concerns.

Commenting on the report, Dilys Robinson, principal research fellow, Institute for Employment Studies, says:

“CHA's research shows that many employees, especially at the younger end of the workforce, want to make a noticeable impact on the big things in society - such as climate change and community improvement. Giving employees the autonomy to get actively involved in worthwhile activities will pay dividends in terms of motivation, enthusiasm, team building, pride and positive employee advocacy.”

Split of survey respondents:

• Private: 43%
• Public: 42%
• Charity: 15%