43% staff seeking new jobs in 2022

Throughout this year, over two fifths of UK workers are planning to jump ship and seek employment elsewhere.

In a survey of 1,200 employees, 43% admitted that they are either actively looking or considering finding a new job in 2022, with half of these wanting their next role to be fully remote.

According to the research from Soffos.ai, 45% agreed that the idea of being interviewed via video call is more appealing than a face-to-face chat.

Despite this, 60% expressed concerns about starting a new role entirely remote, as many citied that it would make it difficult to integrate into the company culture.

Meanwhile, 53% said they are worried about not being able to meet their new colleagues and managers in person.

Similarly, the onboarding process is a point of contention, as 53% of respondents stated that the process would be less thorough than an in-person induction if carried out remotely.

The study revealed that 44% of workers find it harder to reach out to new colleagues if limited to video calls and emails.

Plus, 69% of those seeking new opportunities explained that they would still like to have some in-person induction sessions or informal meetups with managers, even if their next role was primarily remote.

Commenting on the findings, Nikolas Kairinos, CEO and founder of Soffos.ai, noted that the ‘great resignation’ isn’t “going anywhere anytime soon”, but pointed out there are several challenges for today’s jobseekers.

“However, job seeking in the current climate comes with its own set of challenges. Our findings suggest that many people are concerned about starting a new role if unable to do in-person introductions and training. These fears are understandable – without the right technologies and processes in place, starting a new job remotely can be extremely difficult,” he added.

“Employers must rethink old ways of hiring and engaging employees. Technologies that can help with onboarding, not to mention ongoing training, in a personalised manner will be hugely valuable.

“Ultimately, the companies that find success in the New Year will be the ones who kick back hardest against the turnover crisis and turn ‘resignation’ into retention.”