Most Singaporeans believe in job loyalty, onus on employers to groom staff: survey

SINGAPOREANS believe in job loyalty with 59 per cent of Singaporeans wanting to stay with an employer for more than five years, according to a survey conducted by recruitment firm Hays.

It said the onus is on employers to look after their staff, since loyalty and continuous skills and career development should be mutually inclusive.

The survey found that another 30 per cent of the 1,183 Singaporeans polled said they will stay up to five years.

The remaining 11 per cent preferred to change employers every one to two years.

Lynne Roeder, managing director of Hays in Singapore, said: "The job for life mentality is long gone, but so too is the mindset of job hopping regularly. Today, almost 60 per cent of us want to stay with our employer for five years or more suggesting that, for most of us at least, stability, security and loyalty are important."

Given this, she said employers need to create the environment in which employees can remain through the provision of ongoing training and development, regular reviews and promotional opportunities.

"They also need to deliver what they promised in the recruitment process so that the reality of working at their organisation matches what they promoted when they were attracting top talent," Ms Roeder said.

She added that while job loyalty is prized, it is also important to recognise when it is time to move on.

The poll was conducted between August and October this year.