By Aoibhinn Mc Bride
Move over quiet quitting.
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Last year’s prevailing workplace trend, which saw an emergence of employees doing the bare minimum, has been eclipsed by ‘conscious quitting’—resigning or refusing to work for a company because of a conflict of core values or moral code.
According to a recent study conducted by KPMG, almost half of employees in the United Kingdom (46 per cent) now want to work for a company that aligns with their values.
The study also found that a fifth (20 per cent) have turned down a job offer because the company’s values didn’t align with their own.
This is particularly apparent among millennial and Gen Z workers, 55 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively. While environmental fears are predominantly sparking this shift in perspective, global political conflicts are also fuelling the debate.
Eco-conscious
In separate research headed up by Paul Polman, former Chief Executive of Unilever, over two-thirds of employees were anxious about the future of the planet, and over 70 per cent stated that they were concerned about climate change.
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“Human beings who are living through an unprecedented moment in human history; a time of ‘perma-crisis’, where pandemics, war, global warming, economic turmoil and social division in varying degrees threaten people’s health, happiness and safety, and the health, happiness and safety of those we love,” Polman says.
“For younger employees in particular, the future is uncertain and many truly fear for the world they will inherit”.
Additionally, companies that pay lip service to DE&I (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives without making any kind of meaningful change and lasting impact are increasingly coming under fire.
Think token-gesture rainbow flags flying during Pride Month without support systems for LGBTQI+ staff members, or pink cupcakes given to female members of staff on International Women’s Day, but paying them less than their male counterparts.
The study found that commitment to social equality scored high across the board, 75 per cent in the UK and 78 per cent in the US.
Taking back control
So, how can you be sure that the company you’re currently working for has a values system you can stand behind? Or if you’re in the middle of the job hunting process, how can you access information about how a company operates?
Many larger organisations publish an annual ESG (environmental, social and governance) report containing data about how a company operates, its environmental initiatives, sustainability performance, and future plans for renewable business practices.
An ESG report also features information about compliance, DE&I initiatives, political contributions and board structure, for example, how many women or people of colour are on the board of directors.
Another way to do your due diligence before accepting a job offer is to refer to employee reviews on Glassdoor.
Here, you are more likely to get information about the day-to-day management style, approaches to employee well-being and how accommodating an employer is about flexible working.
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Are you Looking for a job with clearly defined company values that include a commitment to sustainability and sustainable working practices? Check out what’s on offer on the Euronews Job Board, which includes the three opportunities below.
Backend Developer Python — Kraken Technologies, Octopus Energy Group, Paris
Do you want to work for a company that is actively responding to the climate crisis by providing cleaner, green energy? Kraken, part of the Octopus Energy Group, is looking for a Backend Developer to work across its platform, and help solve difficult domain modelling challenges. With the advent of smart metres, Kraken will soon be processing millions of metre readings a day and as such, needs someone with the skills to feed this data into a machine-learning pipeline that models and predicts consumption. Interested? Apply here.
Java Full Stack Developer (all genders), Accenture, Bern
Are you a specialist in Java development, open to innovative and future topics in production and feel at home on all software levels? As a Java Full Stack Developer at Accenture, you will engineer modern high-quality applications in fields such as banking, insurance, pharma, railway, retail, resources, and more. Accenture also offers flexible working arrangements and the new hire can work in a hybrid capacity with part-time available. See the full job description here.
Software Engineer, Frontend, Coinbase, Remote in Germany
Coinbase states on its company website that it doesn’t “engage in social or political activism” and seeks to “make the workplace a refuge from division”. If this mentality matches your own, consider this Software Engineer role currently on offer out of its German office. Ideally suited to aspiring early-career frontend engineers, you will build out the next generation of crypto-forward products and features. You will also solve unique, large-scale, highly complex technical problems, bridging the constraints posed by web-scale applications and blockchain technology. Find out more here.
Accelerate your job hunt today via the Euronews Job Board.
