Staff 'plan to quit in pay freeze protest'

ONE in four workers are planning to quit their job in the next year in a "backlash" against ongoing pay and recruitment freezes, according to a new study.

By The Newsroom

Published 31st May 2010, 22:55 BST

Updated 31st May 2010, 22:55 BST

A survey of over 4,000 adults showed that more than one in eight planned to leave as soon as possible, with a further one in 10 hoping to find new work within 12 months.

Workers in the agriculture, transport and communication, energy and water sectors were most likely to be actively looking for a new job.

The findings showed that employees had stopped "battening down the hatches" and could leave organisations vulnerable to the loss of highly skilled key workers at a critical time for economic recovery, said the report.

Sukhi Ghataore, employee engagement specialist at GfK NOP, which carried out the survey, said: "High attrition rates can be disastrous for any business, contributing to disengaged staff as well as higher operating and recruitment costs.

"Improving retention is vital for business stability and growth."

Workers