As employers continue their quest to build a workforce of top talent in today’s challenging market, a new survey sheds light on how employee expectations are evolving—and what HR can do to meet them. While salary and ability to stay employed are top priorities for employees, the research found that flexibility could be an ever-present influence on talent attraction and retention.

Randstad USA’s Workmonitor Pulse survey—focused on employee workplace preferences and what they’re willing to “trade off” on—focused on seven markets and 17 sectors in areas such as manufacturing, transport and logistics, financial services and healthcare. The U.S. edition focused exclusively on the insights and trends specific to the responses of over 750 American workers.

“In an uncertain economic environment, it’s no surprise that employability remains a top priority,” says Marc-Etienne Julien, CEO, Randstad North America. “But what really stands out in our survey is the growing emphasis on flexibility, wellbeing and setting boundaries.”

Organizations that “recognize and adapt” to these realities, he says, “will not only attract stronger talent, they’ll build the kind of trust and loyalty that drives long-term performance.”

Employee expectations: A shifting landscape

Employability over remote work

The survey found that 70% of respondents prefer greater employability over the ability to work remotely. Meanwhile, 63% say they are unlikely to leave their jobs if asked to come into the workplace three or more days a week. This is despite survey results over the past few years predicting mass exoduses at companies that called workers back to the office.

Yet, Randstad did find that workers have certain expectations for full-time, in-office work. Sixty-three percent would expect more flexibility in their hours and nearly as many would want more PTO and a higher salary to return completely in-person.

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