A central element of employee experience is feeling valued at work. Current research shows that lately, that hasn’t been happening. Employees deserve to know that their contributions matter; as employers, how do we make that happen?

It seems the Great Resignation is far from over. Today’s workforce is struggling to be attached to employers; according to HR Dive, almost ⅓ of employees have changed organizations since the pandemic. Moreover, employees are unattached to their industries as a whole, with a whopping 63% of employees considering changing career paths altogether. BambooHR cites an even higher percentage amongst Gen Z and millennials – 94% – who could see themselves working in an industry other than their own.

This shift in younger populations may be ideological; nearly 50% said that they “would not accept a job that didn’t align with their [values].” The statistic brings into question the general position on values concerning work. We know in the shift towards remote work, employees have placed increasing importance on work-life balance. Not many millennials or Gen-Z-ers would accept a job today that didn’t offer the flexibility they need for their lives outside of work. But it’s not all about flexibility; work-life balance is also about aligning employment with personal values.

More than 40% of Gen Z and millennial went as far as to say that they would actually be okay with earning less if they felt their jobs contributed to society in some way. Today, companies that prioritize employees' mental well-being and the overall value that the job brings to their lives are on par with companies offering competitive salaries. Jobs aren’t just all about the money anymore – care is currency.

At the end of the day, the shuffling doesn’t look like it’ll stop any time soon. We all want to feel valued, and many employees simply don’t feel that they are. Almost 40% of Americans say that they have felt less valued by their employers during the pandemic than ever. Through the pandemic, employee needs have changed drastically; solving this issue means meeting these needs and providing employees with freedom.