Six in ten Singapore employees would quit due to a lack of belongingness

67% of Gen Z workers indicated they would resign if they lacked a connection to their workplace.

Over six in ten (62%) of employees in Singapore would leave their jobs if they did not feel a sense of belongingness, according to Randstad.

In a report, Randstad noted the significance of workplace culture in employee retention, particularly amongst Gen Z workers, 67% of whom indicated they would resign if they lacked a connection to their workplace.

It also found one in five workers (21%) have left a job due to a lack of friendships at work, with Millennials and Gen Z being the most affected at 25%. Additionally, 45% of employees stated they would accept a lower salary if their job contributed positively to their social life.

The survey found that 84% of employees consider some colleagues as friends, and 73% socialise with coworkers outside of work. A strong sense of community appears to enhance performance, with 90% of employees stating they work better when they feel connected to their colleagues.

Trust in employers to foster an inclusive workplace varies. Less than half (49%) of employees believe their employer creates an environment where everyone can thrive. Amongst Gen Z workers, only 37% expressed this trust.

Additionally, 26% of employees have left a job because they felt the need to hide aspects of themselves, and 73% say they conceal parts of their identity at work. Gen Z and Millennials (34%) report this experience more frequently than older generations.

Opinions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are mixed. Whilst 70% of employees believe these initiatives are making a difference, 68% feel they are tokenistic, and 47% have raised concerns that DEI efforts go too far or conflict with their values.

Workplace relationships also influence financial decisions. The survey found that 43% of employees would accept lower pay if they had good friends at work, and 45% would take a pay cut if their job contributed to their social life.