MetLife's study: Employees are less loyal than employers think

MetLife's China Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS), released on Tuesday, finds that 47 percent of employers in China are concerned that talent shortages will affect their business in the next 12 months.

Most employers in China (71 percent) said that retaining existing talent is difficult; that's the highest number compared to other markets, including the USA, Poland, Russia and UAE.

MetLife's study surveyed both employers and employees in China to gain insights into employee loyalty, their concerns, employee engagement and productivity. One of the world's most comprehensive workplace studies in the market, EBTS is now in its 13th year in the United States, with China being its 11th global market surveyed. This also marks the first time that MetLife has conducted the study in this market.

The China market presents tremendous opportunities for domestic and multinational companies (MNCs). Chinese businesses have been highly effective in competing in global markets, while more and more MNCs have been attracted to set up businesses in China over the last decade, making the competition for highly-skilled talent fiercer than ever.

Spare a thought for employee engagement

The study also revealed a vast chasm between employee and employer perceptions when it comes to loyalty. Sixty-eight percent of employers think their employees are "loyal", but only 39 percent of employees agree. This misalignment is wider in China compared with many other markets MetLife surveyed, underscoring employee engagement as an issue too big to ignore.

"Globally, we are seeing employers increasingly challenged to find innovative ways to attract, retain and engage talent, and China is no exception," said Maria Morris, executive vice president, Global Employee Benefits, MetLife. "We continue to see, across all markets, that a well-designed and communicated benefits package is a key differentiator for a company looking to set itself apart from its competitors."

What concerns employees in China?

Employees in China are stressed about their financial responsibilities. Most employees aged 18 to 40 have the additional responsibility of caring for their parents, and 59% of them are concerned about the resources to do so, according to EBTS. This may be driven by the effects of the One Child Policy in China.

Employees also care about their health. Topping the list of employees' health concerns are medical problems (65 percent), emotional health (69 percent) and lifestyle issues (e.g. exercise and eating habits etc.) (69 percent). Therefore, they are interested in wellness programs offered by their employers. Seventy-nine percent said they would like their employer to offer more health programs.

Although the Chinese government's policy to postpone the retirement age to 65 would allow employees working longer to save more money for their retirement, the survey finds that 47 percent of employees plan to retire before the age of 60. Unfortunately, half of the surveyed employees said they either lack or are behind on their retirement saving goals. Sixty-two percent agree their company has the responsibility to help them ensure they have enough money for retirement.

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