HR and payroll software provider Ciphr have found that while pay may have the biggest influence on an employee’s productivity it’s not the only motivator at work. In a survey of 265 UK-based CEOs and senior managers about what motivates their workforces to be more productive the study found that the majority of employers believe salary (40 per cent) to be a key factor affecting their employees’ productivity levels, followed by bonuses and performance incentives (31 per cent).
Given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it’s hardly surprising that financial reward should top the list. However, many of the other motivational boosters ranked highly by employers – including flexible working (30 per cent), a healthy working environment (29 per cent), respectful and supportive management (28 per cent), and positive feedback – can cost less and, potentially, have a wider organisational impact. As prioritising positive workplace practices, such as these, are known to help employers promote an inclusive work culture and build a ‘good place to work’, while supporting their workers’ intrinsic (self) motivation to be successful in their roles.
Around a quarter of respondents also listed job enjoyment (26 per cent), extra employee perks and rewards (26 per cent), and recognition and appreciation (26 per cent) as useful ways to spur employee productivity.
The top 15 factors that motivate employees, according to their employers, are:
1 Pay / salary (40 per cent)
2 Bonus / performance incentives (31 per cent)
3 Flexible working (30 per cent)
4 Healthy working environment (29 per cent)
5 Respectful and supportive management (28 per cent)
6 Positive feedback (27 per cent)
7 Enjoying their job (26 per cent)
8= Extra employee perks and rewards (26 per cent)
8= Recognition and appreciation of their work (26 per cent)
10= Opportunities to learn new skills (25 per cent)
10= Meaningful work (25 per cent)
12 Being listened to (24 per cent)
13 Clear career path / development opportunities (24 per cent)
14= Being encouraged to succeed / encouragement (22 per cent)
14= Being part of a supportive team (22 per cent)
Of course, factors that motivate one employee may have no influence on another. The narrow margin between many of the results in Ciphr’s poll highlights that there really is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving employee productivity and performance. Employers need to spend time listening to their own employees to understand their needs and priorities and then use a mix of motivators and engagement tools that work best for their people.
Commenting on the results, Claire Williams, chief people officer at Ciphr, says: “It’s not surprising to see pay at the top of the list in the current financial climate. However, this research is a good reminder to employers that there are lots of other factors that motivate employees that aren’t pay related and are great ways to improve engagement and, ultimately, performance, while helping manage salary inflation.”
The results from Ciphr’s latest survey (conducted between 6-13 December 2022) are available to view at https://www.ciphr.com/top-25-factors-that-motivate-employees.
