More than half (53%) of respondents do not think that they are currently paid appropriately, according to research by search engine Indeed.
Its report, which surveyed 2,502 employees across Europe, also found that a larger salary is not always a primary goal with only 12% of those interviewed citing it as the most important driver of job satisfaction. In comparison, almost one-quarter (24%) see enjoying their job as having the most value.
Approximately one-fifth (21%) of respondents put most store in having positive relationships with their fellow employees, and over half (52%) claim to have a best friend at work.
Despite so many workers feeling underpaid, 55% of those included in the survey say they would consider turning down a pay rise, if it meant shifting into a work environment they disliked, or working with employees they did not get on with. In the same vein, 34% of respondents would turn down a job offer if they heard negative reports about the organisation from peers.
Bill Richards, UK managing director at Indeed, says: “Job satisfaction or fulfilment is a complex idea to pin down, and for each [employee] it’s invariably driven by a mix of factors. Yet it’s striking to learn that the vast majority of Britons are not motivated primarily by how much a job pays. Many of us spend more time at work than we do with our friends and families, so it is vital that our environment and [fellow employees] help create a positive and stimulating atmosphere.”