Two years after the coronavirus pandemic forced widespread office closures, businesses are now reopening and priorities have changed for many employees.

Many workers have grown accustomed to the flexibility of a hybrid or remote work environment and are asking their employers to make it a permanent fixture in the workplace, according to a new Bankrate survey, with some even citing it as a plus. higher priority than a higher salary.

According to Bankrate’s February 2022 survey of job seekers, some 55% of workers say the ability to work from home or have a more flexible schedule is more important to them than before the pandemic. This compares to 52% of respondents who cited a higher salary as more important.

The survey was based on responses from nearly 2,500 adults, 1,416 of whom were employed or looking for work.

“Between the high number of job vacancies, high inflation and the lessons and opportunities resulting from the pandemic, many workers are restless,” said Mark Hamrick, Bankrate’s senior economics analyst and bureau chief. Washington. “It is remarkable that so many Americans place a higher priority on the terms of their employment than on pay, not that pay is unimportant.”

Here’s a look at some key workplace priorities, according to our survey. Respondents could select more than one response:

• 52% cite a higher salary
• 43% cite flexible working hours
• 34% cite the ability to work from home/remotely
• 34% cite job security
• 29% cite more free time/holidays
• 28% cite more fulfilling/rewarding work
• 17% cite a better and/or more inclusive work culture

Meanwhile, 14% of respondents said none of these issues were a top priority for them.

More flexible work styles may be a new preference for Americans, but higher salaries are still high on the priority list. Of those surveyed, 52% of respondents identified this as something that is more important to them now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, it was Gen Zers (54%), as well as Black (61%) and Hispanic (50%) workers, who were more likely to say a higher salary is more important to them now.

But it’s not just rising wages that Americans are concerned about — many workers are more transparent about whether they feel they’re being paid fairly. When comparing themselves to peers with the same work experience or qualifications, 55% of workers felt they were underpaid, with 60% of black employees, 56% of white employees and 49% of Hispanics indicating that they felt underpaid.

With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder that more than half of American workers are considering leaving their current job for a new role. Experts suggest this may be a viable solution for some.

“While it’s reasonable to ask an employer about the prospects for additional pay or better working conditions, sometimes it’s just more effective to seek a new job to achieve those goals,” Hamrick said.

— Bankrate.com/Tribune News Service