MSL The Practice and eJobs Study: What Do Romanians Want from Their Workplace?

The study titled “What Do Romanians Want from Their Workplace?” launched by the PR agency MSL The Practice, a part of Publicis Groupe Romania, and eJobs, the leader in Romania’s online recruitment market, presents significant aspects regarding the preferences and expectations of employees in industries such as Automotive, Retail, Oil & Gas, Medical & Pharma, and IT&C. Analyzing the criteria for choosing an employer, factors for changing jobs, loyalty factors, and preferred working methods, the study provides an accurate snapshot of the current labor market in Romania.

“Although for employees in all industries, salary, and benefits offered by the employer are the main factors in choosing a job, each industry has its specific motivators for choosing an employer or leaving their current job. Therefore, a more detailed analysis of each industry helps companies make decisions about adapting their EVP or entire Employer Branding strategy based on concrete data. Besides this industry-specific study, we can delve even deeper with the help of a customized study dedicated to an organization as the first step in an Employer Branding Audit,” stated Stela Toderașcu, Employer Branding Director at MSL The Practice.

Flexibility and Preferred Working Methods

Regardless of the industry they are in, a hybrid work model is preferred by the majority of employees interviewed in the study (58%). Non-managerial employees are more inclined to work from home. Additionally, most employees express a desire for flexibility from their employer concerning work start and end times, with over a third of respondents opting for this choice. Managers are more interested than other employee categories in arranging work schedules based on task completion rather than fixed hours.

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“Candidates and employees are quite determined when it comes to their expectations from a job and an employer. They know very well what they want, what they are willing to give up, what might make them leave a job, or how they can be convinced to accept a new job offer. Their list of expectations serves as a good starting point for companies working on their employer brand, whether they’re building it from scratch or are in a position to ‘repair’ it. Especially since there are enough indications from respondents that don’t necessarily involve financial efforts but rather a rethinking of organizational culture,” added Raluca Dumitra, Head of Marketing at eJobs Romania.

Regarding the increasingly discussed option of adopting a four-day workweek instead of five, this is a more appealing choice for non-managerial employees and laborers.

Key Insights from Different Industries in the “What Do Romanians Want from Their Workplace” Study

Learning Opportunities – Attractive for Employees in the Automotive Industry

For 85% of those working in the automotive sector, salary and benefits offered are the most important factors influencing their choice of employer. Additionally, for over half of them, work-life balance and the working atmosphere are decisive when considering a career change.

Employees in this industry are particularly drawn to possibilities for training and development, with 44% of them considering a clear and coherent career plan with promotion opportunities to be an essential factor in increasing loyalty to the employer.

Remote work is a less significant reason for choosing an employer compared to other industries, with only 10% selecting this option, while a hybrid work model is preferred by over 60% of respondents.

On the other hand, among employees in this sector, salary benefits, an unfriendly work atmosphere, and toxic management are the main factors influencing them to change jobs. Despite this, they show higher job stability compared to the overall average. Almost one-third of them have been in the same job for over five years, and 40% wish to continue in the automotive industry. However, 30% are open to changing both their job and industry in the future.

Company Reputation – Important for Loyalty in the Oil & Gas Industry

While salary and benefits are the primary reasons for choosing an employer for Oil & Gas industry employees, company reputation is more critical for this group than for those in other industries, likely due to a higher sense of job security.

Regarding loyalty to a company, a pleasant work atmosphere is a crucial factor for 71.7% of employees in the oil & gas sector, followed by company reputation (21%), sustainability and social responsibility programs (15%), all of which are more important in this industry compared to others.

Work atmosphere plays a central role in the decisions of employees in the oil & gas industry, with 71% stating they would leave their current job if the atmosphere became hostile. They are also more motivated than employees in other industries by advancement opportunities.

However, the Oil & Gas sector demonstrates higher workforce stability, with 45% wishing to stay in the same industry when changing employers.

Retail Employees – Drawn to Working in Different Companies or Industries

For employees in the retail industry, where physical presence is often required, the option to work remotely or in a hybrid model is less important compared to those in other industries. However, 85% of them consider salary and benefits the main factors in choosing an employer.

In terms of changing jobs, over a quarter of respondents have been with the same employer for more than five years. However, 79% of retail employees participating in the study plan to change jobs in the next year, and nearly half of them are considering transitioning to a completely different industry. For 42% of respondents, finding a new job in a different company is one of their objectives for the upcoming year.

Work-Life Balance – a Primary Objective for Employees in the Medical & Pharma Field

Although salary and benefits are the main motivators for 88% of those in the Medical & Pharma sector, a work-life balance is of utmost importance, ranking as a top priority for 70% of respondents. This balance is also a primary factor for those considering leaving their current job.

Around 75% of employees in the medical & pharma sector who participated in the study plan to change jobs in the next year, with the majority (62%) intending to stay in the same industry.

Among the reasons for choosing an employer, career development through training and growth programs is becoming more important compared to other industries, with 28% of respondents considering this factor. Another significant consideration is the possibility of retraining or requalification, chosen by 19% of participants.

IT&C Employees – Motivated by Flexible Schedules and Remote Work

Compared to employees in other industries, those in the IT&C sector are more motivated by the opportunity to work remotely, with 41% preferring remote work, while 50% prefer a hybrid model.

When contemplating changing employers, the most influential factors for IT&C employees are a toxic management style at their current workplace (60%), lack of growth prospects (41%), lack of work-life balance (36%), or a better salary offer (57%). Unlike other industries, IT&C employees prioritize professional development prospects. However, they also demonstrate higher job mobility, with a quarter of IT&C respondents having changed jobs within the last six months.

The “What Do Romanians Want from Their Workplace” study is a data solution within the DATA Intelligence portfolio of Publicis Groupe Romania. All DATA solutions can be found at: www.dataintelligence.ro.