Technology was ranked as the top societal issue that demands business action in India: Atlassian Survey
Digital privacy for Gen Z (86%) and Millennials (84%),
responsible use of data for Gen X (88%) and digital infrastructure for Baby Boomers
(91%) was of priority
Bangalore, June 15, 2023 – Atlassian Corporation (NASDAQ:TEAM), the maker of Jira, Confluence and Bitbucket, has
commissioned its Return on Action research in India, examining the impact of
the action, or inaction, of businesses in tackling pressing social and
environmental issues.
The research, undertaken by PwC Australia with support
from PwC India, reveals an overwhelming majority (97%) of knowledge workers
expect action from businesses on issues related to the environment, health
& wellbeing, the economy, technology, human rights, and equality, and 82%
believe businesses should be just as concerned with their social impact as they
are with their financial performance.
Crucially, there are high risks if an employer's
actions don't align with the values held by their employees. Half (50%) of
knowledge workers would go so far as quit their job or start looking for
employment elsewhere as a result of value misalignment - this increases to 51%
amongst Millennials, the core workforce, and 53% of women knowledge workers who
are also more likely to admit feeling pressure from their employer to support
causes they don’t believe in.
As well as losing staff, there is a danger of a
negative impact on workplace culture, performance, and organizational
reputation if employer and employees’ values do not align. Nearly half (49%)
would discuss discontent with their colleagues and over one-third (34%) with
people outside of their organisation, while 43% would be “disengaged” at work.
Discontent manifests differently across genders, with men more likely to
discuss their grievances with colleagues, while women are more likely to
consider an alternative job role with lower pay and fewer benefits, despite the
current challenging economic environment.
Consultation is key (and reaps rewards)
Jessica Hyman, Head of Sustainability, Atlassian said, “Our inaugural Return on Action research in
India sends a clear message to businesses that speaking up and acting on social
and environmental issues is non-negotiable. It’s no longer a decision on whether
to act, it’s a matter of how.”
“But before making that leap, the research highlights
the crucial need for businesses to consult with their employees from the
outset, with over three-quarters (83%) of knowledge workers wanting to have a
say in the societal issues their employer acts on. From here, businesses must
determine its approach in a way that aligns with both employee values and its
business strategy.”
The business case for considered action is clear with
the research revealing a strong correlation between satisfaction with the
actions of an employer and overall job satisfaction, which is crucial for
employee retention and attracting talent in an increasingly competitive market.
Issues where employees demand action
As India leads the G20 Summit Presidency for 2023,
there is a huge focus on digital transformation, sustainability and equitable
growth for all, and these themes are mirrored in the Return on Action findings.
A large proportion of Indian knowledge workers
consider businesses to be primarily responsible for addressing issues relating
to technology, the economy, and the environment, and hold high expectations for
businesses to do even more.
Technology: Companies looking to compete in technologies like AI,
Machine Learning and cloud have a big opportunity to prove they are adopting
these technologies responsibly. Almost one-third (31%) of respondents
agree that businesses have the primary responsibility for addressing issues
related to technology pertaining to digital privacy, responsible use of
technology and data and digital infrastructure, even more so than the
government (18%). When asked the top issues businesses should act on,
technology issues topped the list across all age demographics - specifically,
digital privacy for Gen Z (86%) and Millennials (84%), responsible use of data
for Gen X (88%) and digital infrastructure for Baby Boomers (91%).
The environment: According to the 2022 World Air Quality Report[1],
India was eighth globally in its rankings of PM2.5 concentration, i.e., harmful
air pollutants, and 12 of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia
are in India. Atlassian’s study found environmental pollution placed at the
highest relative importance by respondents. 89% agree
businesses need to do more in addressing waste and pollution, and 87% agree
they should take full responsibility for their environmental impact e.g.,
renewable energy and zero waste.
The economy: Over half (56%) of knowledge workers believe issues
related to the economy, such as unemployment, corruption, and poverty, are more
important now compared to the past 12 months, and 43% believe businesses need
to do more to address these issues. In the current economic environment,
unemployment ranked fourth in relative importance of social issues overall.
Empowering employees
“There are many ways a business can demonstrate to
employees its commitment to an issue, from setting public facing goals,
reporting out progress against them, investing in external partnerships and
advocating for critical policy,” Jessica Hyman added. “But above all,
knowledge workers expressed a desire to be empowered to act themselves, such as
through education programs or opportunities for fundraising or volunteering.
This is a powerful way for businesses to work alongside their employees
creating the time, space, and support for them to lead the change they want to
see, rather than dictating the path ahead.”
Methodology
The survey was conducted Pan-India by PwC Australia
with support from PwC India between 10th February and 23rd February 2023 with a
sample size of 2,406 knowledge workers across a range of states, industries,
and demographics. The data in this report is significance tested to a 95%
confidence level with a margin of error of 2%. Link
to the Return on Action Factsheet. With
key datapoints.
About Atlassian
Teams of more than 250,000 customers use Atlassian's collaboration and productivity software to organize, discuss, and complete shared work. Learn more about its products, including Jira Software, Confluence, Jira Service Management, Trello, Bitbucket, and Jira Align at https://www.atlassian.com/