Generation Y demands greener employers

Over a third of US workers would be more inclined to work for companies with strong green credentials, according to a major new survey highlighting the growing influence environmental issues are exerting over staff recruitment and retention policies.

The survey of more than 2,200 adults carried out by market research firm Harris Interactive found that 36 per cent would be more inclined to work for a "green" company, while 59 per cent believe their current employer should be doing more improve its environmental performance.

Tig Gilliam, chief executive at HR consultancy Adecco Group North America, which commissioned the research, said that the study confirmed that job seekers are increasingly looking into firms' environmental policies when looking for a job. "Similar to investigating a company's financial performance and work/life programs, we're seeing more and more candidates doing their homework and looking closely to determine the reality behind a company's claims of environmental friendliness," he said.

The report also found that younger employees are the most likely to want to work for firms with strong green credentials, suggesting that the issue will grow in importance as the baby boomer genration begins to retire. Morer than two thirds of Generation Y workers, typically characterised as people born after 1980, said they wanted their employer to be environmentally friendly compared to just 52 per cent of baby boomers.

Moreover, firms that adopt strong green policies could find that it saves them money when looking to recruit younger staff.

Almost a third of respondents said that they would be willing to sacrifice a portion of their salary to work for an environmentally friendly firm with Generation Y workers saying they would sacrifice, on average, 6.2 per cent of their wages. In contrast, environmentally conscious baby boomers would be willing to sacrifice just 2.5 per cent.