An overwhelming majority (97%) of knowledge workers in India expect action from businesses on issues related to the environment, health & wellbeing, the economy, technology, human rights and equality, and 82% believe businesses should be just as concerned with their social impact as they are with their financial performance. These are the findings of a research, commissioned by Atlassian Corporation and undertaken by PwC Australia with support from PwC India. 

Crucially, there are high risks if an employer’s actions don’t align with the values held by their employees, according to the Return on Action research.

Half (50%) of knowledge workers would go so far as quit their job or start looking for employment elsewhere as a result of value misalignment – this increases to 51% amongst Millennials, the core workforce, and 53% of women knowledge workers who are also more likely to admit feeling pressure from their employer to support causes they don’t believe in. 

The survey was conducted among 2,406 knowledge workers across a range of states, industries, and demographics in India. 

It also highlights that there is a danger of a negative impact on workplace culture, performance, and organizational reputation if employer and employees’ values do not align. Nearly half (49%) would discuss discontent with their colleagues and over one-third (34%) with people outside of their organisation, while 43% would be “disengaged” at work. Discontent manifests differently across genders, with men more likely to discuss their grievances with colleagues, while women are more likely to consider an alternative job role with lower pay and fewer benefits, despite the current challenging economic environment. 

Consultation is key (and reaps rewards) 

Jessica Hyman, Head of Sustainability, Atlassian said, “Our inaugural Return on Action research in India sends a clear message to businesses that speaking up and acting on social and environmental issue is non-negotiable. It’s no longer a decision on whether to act, it’s a matter of how.” 

“But before making that leap, the research highlights the crucial need for businesses to consult with their employees from the outset, with over three-quarters (83%) of knowledge workers wanting to have a say in the societal issues their employer acts on. From here, businesses must determine its approach in a way that aligns with both employee values and its business strategy.” 

The business case for considered action is clear with the research revealing a strong correlation between satisfaction with the actions of an employer and overall job satisfaction, which is crucial for employee retention and attracting talent in an increasingly competitive market. 

Issues where employees demand action 

As India leads the G20 Summit Presidency for 2023, there is a huge focus on digital transformation, sustainability and equitable growth for all, and these themes are mirrored in the Return on Action findings. 

A large proportion of Indian knowledge workers consider businesses to be primarily responsible for addressing issues relating to technology, the economy and the environment, and hold high expectations for businesses to do even more. 

Technology: Companies looking to compete in technologies like AI, Machine Learning and cloud have a big opportunity to prove they are adopting these technologies responsibly.Almost one-third (31%) of respondents agree that businesses have the primary responsibility for addressing issues related to technology pertaining to digital privacy, responsible use of technology and data and digital infrastructure, even more so than the government (18%). When asked the top issues businesses should act on, technology issues topped the list across all age demographics – specifically, digital privacy for Gen Z (86%) and Millennials (84%), responsible use of data for Gen X (88%) and digital infrastructure for Baby Boomers (91%). 

The environment: According to the 2022 World Air Quality Report, India was eighth globally in its rankings of PM2.5 concentration, i.e. harmful air pollutants, and 12 of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia are in India. Atlassian’s study found environmental pollution placed at the highest relative importance by respondents. 89% agree businesses need to do more in addressing waste and pollution, and 87% agree they should take full responsibility for their environmental impact e.g. renewable energy and zero waste. 

The economy: Over half (56%) of knowledge workers believe issues related to the economy, such as unemployment, corruption and poverty, are more important now compared to the past 12 months, and 43% believe businesses need to do more to address these issues. In the current economic environment, unemployment ranked fourth in relative importance of social issues overall. 

Empowering employees 

“There are many ways a business can demonstrate to employees its commitment to an issue, from setting public facing goals, reporting out progress against them, investing in external partnerships and advocating for critical policy,”Jessica Hyman added. “But above all, knowledge workers expressed a desire to be empowered to take action themselves, such as through education programs or opportunities for fundraising or volunteering. This is a powerful way for businesses to work alongside their employees creating the time, space and support for them to lead the change they want to see, rather than dictating the path ahead.”

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The mass layoffs, hiring freezes, the quiet quitting or the great resignation – it hasn’t been easy for today’s workforce, resulting in employee burnout, low productivity and host of other issues. A recent survey of 6400 workers across the world indicates that employees are increasingly turning to AI for aid. 

The survey commissioned by UiPath, an enterprise automation software company, found that nearly 60% of respondents believe that automation can address burnout and improve job fulfillment, and 57% report that they view employers that use business automation to help support employees and modernize operations more favorably than those that do not.

This comes as 28% of global respondents report that they have been asked to take on more tasks in the past six months due to layoffs and hiring freezes. About the same number of employees (29%) around the world report being negatively affected by burnout. 

The survey points to the emergence of the Automation Generation as more employees lean on AI tool to get their jobs done.

According to the survey, the Automation Generation does not represent a specific age or demographic, but rather, the professionals embracing AI and automation to be more collaborative, creative, and productive. This generation of workers wants these technologies to enrich their work and personal lives and prevent them from feeling like robots themselves.

Thirty-one percent of all respondents are already using business automation solutions at work. Of these workers comprising the Automation Generation, 87% feel like they have the resources and support needed to do their job effectively and 83% believe business automation solutions can help address burnout and enhance job satisfaction.

Younger employees are more receptive to the potential of AI-powered automation in helping them at work, with close to 70% of Gen Z workers thinking that automation would help them do their jobs better. Only about 44% of Baby Boomer respondents feel similarly. 

Brigette McInnis-Day, Chief People Officer at UiPath, said,

“Disruption in the workplace and macroeconomic factors often mean employees are asked to bear that burden by doing more with less—but it doesn’t need to be that way. The employees of Automation Generation are embracing AI-powered automation so they can better manage their workloads, excel in their careers, and improve their work-life balance. Businesses that deploy AI in an open, flexible, and enterprise ready way are best positioned to attract and retain the types of employees that will help them thrive in an automation-first world. Automation is a key differentiator for companies to attract and retain by empowering employees and driving engagement.”

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