Most public sector staff feel loyal to their job, not their employer – Reward Gateway

Most public sector staff feel engaged with their job, but not with the organisation they work for, according to Reward Gateway Edenred’s (RGER’s) Public Sector Engagement report. 

The research showed that 83% of employees felt engaged with their role or mission, while 64% said they were more committed to their job than to the organisation itself.

70% reported a strong sense of purpose, but this was being tested by rising workloads, with 55% saying this was the main factor affecting engagement. 

45% said they experienced emotional strain or burnout, and 43% said chronic understaffing was making workloads worse.

Additionally, the report found that 70% of staff said their performance was self-driven, rather than supported by their organisation.

69% said leaders talked about engagement, but did not act on it, and 53% did not trust leaders to act on feedback or survey results.

93% said feeling appreciated was important, 77% said support and recognition improved their performance, 69% said recognition increased loyalty, and 60% said it helped them manage stress.

Colin Hodgson, commercial director at Reward Gateway | Edenred, said: “Engagement is a critical driver of performance, and it benefits organisations to have an engaged, productive workforce. 

“But our latest survey shows that there is a rift between employees and the businesses they work for, which not only impacts work outputs but also loyalty and retention.

“We are in a worklessness crisis, and organisations are in a position where they can attract, and retain, a productive workforce.”

Hodgson added: “It is not costly to make employees feel appreciated, supported and recognised, whether this is through direct feedback, bonuses or workplace benefits. 

“These are no longer ‘nice to have’ – they are essential measurable contributors to outcomes that matter.”