Survey: Many Workers' Core Values at Odds with Employer's

Minneapolis — April 4
One-third of workers say their employer’s core values are not always consistent with their own, according to a nationwide telephone survey conducted by CO2 Partners, a Minnesota leadership development firm.

For so many employees to experience an ethical conflict with how they earn a living might account for the disengagement found in so many places of work, said CO2 Partners President Gary Cohen.

“Management often seems to expect employees to ignore their personal values in favor of the ones posted on the wall,” he said.

Respondents were asked, “Which of the following best describes your attitude toward your own core values and how you earn a living?”

• You know what your core values are and they are consistent with your employer’s: 44 percent
• You know what your core values are, but they are not always consistent with your employer’s: 30 percent
  
• You are not certain what your core values are, but you never feel uncomfortable working for your employer: 11 percent
• You don’t feel core values have much to do with the work you do: 10 percent

Clarity with respect to core values, Cohen said, will improve as more organizations see it as a substantive issue.

“It is disconcerting that leaders are not spending more time aligning their employee’s values with those of their organization," he said. "When employee values clash with the organization’s operating values, the outcome is ‘work avoidance’ — passive, unproductive behaviors and a silent sabotage of projects and ideas.

"Employees may not be conscious of such behavior, but the covert negative manifestation is the direct result of them being forced to work in misalignment with their core values. Clearly, such misalignment can have a significant impact on workforce productivity and employee engagement. If organizations are going to grow talent and commitment, there has to be mutuality when it comes to communication and operating principles. Otherwise, the much-sought-after employee engagement will continue to prove elusive.