It’s not rocket science. Employees want specific things from the organizations they work for.

Nonetheless, not all employers have received the memo.

As more people leave their jobs, companies struggle to attract and keep employees.

This begs the question: what do employees want?

What every employee wants from their job

There are five basic things that every employee wants from their job.

1. Purpose

Employees want to know what they need to do to succeed in their jobs. They also want to understand how their job relates to the company’s purpose.

Employees want to have a sense of purpose in what they do every day.

They need to know that what they are doing is essential. It has a goal for the greater good in the world.

“It’s only when companies are clear about their purpose, have clearly communicated it, and it is understood by the team that companies can achieve both unity of effort and distributed decision making.”

Marc Koehler, author of Leading with Purpose

Employees want meaningful work.

Employers must help employees connect the dots between their roles and the organization’s purpose.

If the mundane tasks are essential to the company’s success, how do those meet the company’s broader goals?

When employers give their employees a clear understanding of their roles, responsibilities, and goals, everyone benefits.

For example, conducting performance reviews once a year is no longer enough.

Most performance problems occur more often than once a year.

Performance usually suffers because of a disconnect in expectations, a lack of communication, and a lack of purpose.

2. Respect

We all want respect. We want to be treated with dignity. Employees want to be respected as individuals with diverse needs and passions.

Everyone has different backgrounds and perspectives.

“We don’t need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful.”

Taylor Swift, an American singer-songwriter

Research indicates that half of employees do not feel respected by their bosses.

People expect to be treated like adults, not children.

They want open and honest communication.

Leaders should learn that the only way to earn respect is to give respect.

Respect enables employees to learn from one another, overcome company challenges, and foster meaningful relationships.

Respect in the workplace is just like respect in life. Mutual respect should be a core part of every company.

3. Education

Employees want to learn and become more successful at their jobs. They want to have the skills and tools they need to do their work effectively.

As work changes, employees want to be educated about new technologies and tools to improve collaboration.

“The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety.”

Josh Waitzkin, an American chess player

People want the tools and education to grow their careers.

• Employees want to learn new skills to carry out their jobs more effectively.
• They want to learn about their industry through events and conferences.
• They want to cultivate new relationships.

Education boosts the confidence of employees. Employees want to work harder and smarter.

With more education, employees can make this happen. Learning is an excellent opportunity for employees to expand their knowledge and grow their careers.

4. Recognition

People want to feel appreciated, recognized for their hard work, and valued for their daily work. 

Research says that a lack of recognition was a contributing factor in 44% of employees changing jobs.

“People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise and rewards.” — 

Dale Carnegie, an American writer

Employees will do their job better when they are good at what they do. They want to be praised for a job well done or for achieving their goals.

A simple “thank you” can be effective.

Yet, many leaders don’t think enough about genuinely recognizing their employees.

Recognition helps employees understand how their contributions help their team and the company as a whole.

When organizations grow and change, recognition helps employees build a sense of security in their value. Recognition helps employees stay motivated and keep working hard.

5. Trust

We all want to trust our company leaders. But some bad leadership behaviors destroy that trust. These include a lack of consistency and emotional intelligence.

“Trust has to be earned and should come only after the passage of time.”

Arthur Ashe, an American professional tennis player

Trust in the workplace means that employees enjoy the company culture. The culture promotes honesty, safety, and mutual respect.

When employees take pride in their workplace, they are more likely to go the extra mile.

Trust in the workplace helps employees feel secure in their jobs. It reduces turnover and enables people to have a significant influence on others.

Trust is essential for maintaining excellent morale and motivation. Employees are more likely to execute at a high level. They are trusted to decide the most effective way to do their jobs.

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Bringing it all together

There are five things most people want from their jobs. Those basic things are purpose, respect, education, recognition, and trust.

When companies focus on the basics of job satisfaction, they attract top talent. This helps them keep employees engaged.

If you are an employer, start by understanding these basics of what employees want. This is the most effective way to attract and keep top talent.

If you are an employee, make sure these basic requirements are met as you work toward a successful career.

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