3 in 10 would quit their job for greener employer

A rising proportion of UK workers would consider quitting their current job to work for a more environmentally-friendly employer, and a quarter would even be willing to take a pay cut.

The survey of 2,000 people by jobs site Totaljobs found that 28 per cent would be willing to leave their job to move to an organisation they considered to be more environmentally-conscious. The figure jumps to 50 per cent for millennials between the ages of 23 and 38.

When asked how much money they would be willing to knock off their annual salaries to take up such a role, millennials were willing to accept a salary reduction of over £11,000 on average. By comparison, generation X - those aged 38 to 54 - would be willing to take an average pay cut of £3,800.

Nearly a fifth of respondents said they would refuse to work for a company they considered to be harmful to the environment, while 6 in 10 said they actively investigate a potential employer’s environmental impact as part of their job application process.

When asked about their current job, 59 per cent said their employer was not doing enough to be considered environmentally-friendly, with reducing carbon emissions the biggest concern. A similar number said they would be willing to expect spending limits elsewhere in the business to increase funding for green initiatives, particularly on company furniture, staff parties and events, and team lunches.

‘A challenge and an opportunity’

Lynn Cahillane, head of marketing at Totaljobs, said: “Our research demonstrates just how important environmental concerns are to the UK workforce and how they expect their employers to contribute towards stopping the climate crisis. For employers, this presents a unique challenge, but also an opportunity.

“With a widely reported skills shortage, employers have the opportunity to showcase a clear commitment to reducing carbon emissions and help tackle the climate crisis.

“As well as its growing role in attracting talent, companies also need to address their practices to ensure they are retaining staff too. The findings tell us that people are prepared to leave their job for a greener role, so businesses that can’t communicate their environmental record could potentially suffer. On the whole, UK decision-makers are confident they have the right plans in place, but with one in ten confessing that they ‘would not know where to start’ – there is still room for greater education.”