Become the destination for socially engaged talent
Become the destination for socially engaged talent
The pandemic has raised fundamental questions for both employers and employees: what is the meaning and value of work if it is no longer so closely tied to working in a specific place for set hours to serve a corporate purpose?
As work life and home life have become blended in new ways, people in office-based roles have welcomed greater flexibility and independence but also missed opportunities for socialising and collaboration.
What do employees want?
These trends are especially amplified among younger generations of workers. For example, recent research by the polling company Gallup found that millennials and Gen Z workers prioritised factors such as ethical leadership and employee wellbeing over factors such as financial stability when evaluating the type of organisation they want to work for. The research found that factors such as strong organisational culture and a clear sense of purpose were important in attracting and retaining talent.
Public and social sector organisations are not immune from these trends.
With their clear mission to improve social outcomes for communities, safeguard health and wellbeing, and reduce inequalities, public and social sector organisations should be a natural fit for socially engaged talent looking to make a difference to their communities.
Our findings
It is surprising to see, therefore, that in this latest research among public and social sector leaders, only a quarter (26%) of those surveyed said that public and social sector organisations offer an attractive career option to a great extent for people looking to make a significant impact on social value or ESG goals. A further 42% said that they offer an attractive option to some extent.
This research, detailed in the Mazars report - Demystifying ESG: a pathway to enhance social value for the public and social sector – highlights a clear confidence gap among the sector to benefit from a more ESG-conscious workforce.
As we emerge from the pandemic, now is the time to reimagine what a career in public and social sector organisations may look like and for the sector to be bolder in advocating why they should be the destination of choice for socially engaged talent.
Demystifying ESG includes practical insights on how organisations can design and deliver a credible ESG strategy, and in doing so position themselves as the employer of choice for people wanting to make a difference in their communities.
The wording makes the trends feel like a negative thing - can we re-phrase to something equally concise/punchy but more positive?
Read the full report
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'Demystifying ESG: a pathway to enhance social value in the public and social sector' was published on October 13th 2021. It is based on research among 60 senior leaders in public and social sector organisations and showcases a mix of research findings, industry perspectives, and Mazars' insights.