Culture Top Factor for Increasing Satisfaction; Lack of Growth Opportunities Top Frustration

LOS ANGELES, February 12, 2015 — Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), a single source of leadership and talent consulting services, today revealed the results of a workplace satisfaction survey showing the top reasons executives “love their job.” At the top of this list is workplace relationships with co-workers and clients (43 percent). Rounding out the top three reasons is company culture/values (18 percent) and growth opportunities (17 percent).

The latest in Korn Ferry’s Executive Survey series finds that the top job frustration for 55 percent of those surveyed is a “lack of growth opportunities,” while the factor that would most dramatically improve executives’ feelings about their job, according to 47 percent of those surveyed, is working for “a company whose culture is aligned with my values.”

“Today’s employees need to feel their organization’s culture honors what they value and what is important to them,” said Korn Ferry Senior Partner Dave Eaton. “For example, if their organization gives lip service to a participative culture, but in reality decisions are made from the top down, they’ll feel undervalued and may leave. It’s incredibly important to focus on culture, especially during times of change, such as in a merger or acquisition.”

Korn Ferry research has identified several key dimensions of organizational culture and helps company leaders define, establish and enhance an ideal culture based on business objectives.

“We measure dimensions of culture along continuums, such as task oriented to people oriented and short-term to long-term focus, and help clients find the right mix,” said Eaton. “The key to having a successful organizational culture is to be consistent and to actually live the culture in daily practice,” said Eaton.

More information on organizational culture can be found here.

About the survey
Korn Ferry fielded the survey during the first week of February 2015. There were nearly 350 responses. Survey Results:

Q: What do you love about your job?

Relationship with co-workers/clients 43%
Company culture/values 18%
Growth opportunities 17%
Relationship with management/employer 13%
Competitive pay/compensation 6%
I do not like my job 3%

Q: What is your greatest frustration on the job?

Lack of growth opportunities 55%
Relationship with management/employer 19%
I don't fit into the company culture/values 14%
Low pay/compensation 11%
Relationship with co-workers/clients 1%

Q: What factor would most dramatically improve your feelings about your job?

Working for a company whose culture is aligned with my values 47%
Clear advancement opportunities 20%
More equitable compensation 10%
I already love my job 10%
Better development programs 9%
An employer that offers more constructive feedback 4%

About Korn Ferry
At Korn Ferry, we design, build, attract and ignite talent. Since our inception, clients have trusted us to help recruit world-class leadership. Today, we are a single source for leadership and talent consulting services to empower businesses and leaders to reach their goals. Our solutions range from executive recruitment and leadership development programs, to enterprise learning, succession planning and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO). Visit http://www.kornferry.com for more information on Korn Ferry, and http://www.kornferryinstitute.com for thought leadership, intellectual property and research.