Data collected by Supercritical reveals that one-third of employees based in Britain would be willing to quit their jobs if their employer does not initiate a clear climate crisis mitigation strategy.
With the climate crisis undeniably coming to a head, more individuals are becoming concerned with eliminating behaviours that worsen it.
While changing our personal habits does make a difference, a huge portion of our carbon footprint can be traced back to our jobs, where we spend a large majority of our time and energy.
Not to mention, certain companies are responsible for – or at least play a role in facilitating other businesses with – carrying out activities that emit immense amounts of greenhouse gases annually.
So what will people do if their employers refuse to take the steps needed to reduce the company’s carbon footprint?
According to Supercritical’s survey of 2,000 British employees, one-third of workers would quit their jobs.
Unsurprisingly, Gen Z felt most strongly about company climate action, with over half saying they would stop working for one that had no climate action plan.
We know that Gen Z is acutely aware of the ongoing climate crisis and is most motivated to take action that prevents it from worsening, despite having contributed the least to it.
Still, further data revealed that – even in a recession – 32 percent of all employees surveyed would not want their company to cut its sustainability programme to save money.
Sure, loads of businesses have already taken steps towards reducing their environmental impact. From easy solutions like swapping old packaging out for eco-friendly materials, to fitting skyscrapers and other office buildings with solar panels.
But one-fifth of UK employees admit to being unsatisfied with their employers’ current commitments to becoming more sustainable.
Michelle You, co-founder and CEO of Supercritical said, ‘Businesses can no longer get away with changing or scrapping their sustainability initiatives at the drop of a hat.’
She continued, ‘Employees are demanding more and employers are being held to account. Those that want to attract and retain top talent must start seeing climate action as a non-negotiable or risk being left behind.’
The future is green
Sustainable practices are slowly but surely becoming the standard. Being environmentally conscious is also something the vast majority feel morally obligated to.
At least 50 percent of all respondents said that a company’s strategy for reaching net zero would impact their decision to accept a job position. Meanwhile, 80 percent said they’d refuse to work for a company they knew was harming the environment.
Whether you’re privy to believing the data or a bit of a cynic about people’s willingness to follow through with their answers, it’s impossible to ignore how the climate crisis now influences a role in every part of daily life.
With 70 percent of office-based employees said would be proud to work for a climate-conscious company, it wouldn’t be bad to assume that companies lacking in plans for achieving net zero will struggle to hire younger generations.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
The history behind Japan’s post-Valentine’s holiday is one of miscommunication, hierarchy, and obligation.
Worldwide, Valentine’s day takes on the familiar form of commercialised love. Red roses and heart shaped chocolates abound. But in Japan, the holiday follows rituals of its own – each with their own labyrinthine of social obligations.
On the 14th of February, Japanese women are traditionally the gift-givers, still opting for the humble chocolate to display their affections. Only...
A study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition has found that gluten-free products typically provide less protein and more sugar and calories than regular ones.
Ironically, gluten-free usually costs more.
When you go gluten-free, you aren’t paying based on nutritional content, but more the processes required to remove the protein from food – yes, gluten is a protein.
Gluten-free ingredients like almond flour or quinoa are pricier than their more common...
The 22-year-old tennis champion said she is proud of her response after spotting a man who had previously ‘exhibited fixated behaviour’ during a match at the Dubai Tennis Champions.
Emma Raducanu has said she will be OK after a ‘difficult experience’ at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
After two games had passed during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova, Emma noticed a man in the crowd she had interacted with previously off...
The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) has given 27 teams a total of £81 million to determine signals that would warn us of imminent climate collapse and catastrophes.
A new, ambitious climate change project has received a sizeable sum of cash to get the ball rolling.
The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) financially backs high-risk, high-reward projects. It has just awarded £81 million to 27 teams that...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok