Sluggishness in sustainability risks brain drain for businesses

Employers are being urged to shore up their commitments to meeting sustainability and net zero targets or risk an exodus amongst younger workers. Nearly half (48 percent) of Gen Z workers agree they would consider leaving a job that didn’t walk the talk in its promises on sustainability. This is according to the latest Bupa Wellbeing Index, a landmark survey that uncovers the state of the nation’s health and wellbeing.

The research found that despite worries around inflation and the cost of living, two-fifths of all workers (42 percent) say they’d accept a job on lower pay to work for a more ethical or environmentally active organisation. This rose to 66 percent amongst the Gen Z demographic. On average, workers are willing to take a significant 19 percent reduction in pay, rising to 23 percent among Gen Z to work for a company who is taking action against climate change.

There’s also increasing evidence of the impact of environmental issues on mental health. 42 percent of workers said a lack of action on social or environmental issues by their employer has a negative effect on their mental health, up from 33 percent in 2021.

As a result, workers want more of a say and to see tangible action on sustainability and net zero targets. Just over one in five (21 percent) workers say it’s not enough for senior leaders to put out promises on sustainability without getting input from the wider workforce – rising to 29 percent among Gen Z.

Over half of Gen Z workers (56 percent) say putting forward sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives to leadership, and seeing these come to fruition, would make them more motivated at work, in turn driving productivity, loyalty and talent retention. And they favour working with eco-friendly start-ups and innovators that move the needle, rather than sticking with set practices.