United States (English)Climbing the corporate ladder is something many young professionals aspire to do. Just imagine having that corner office, better pay and benefits, and the prestige and recognition that come with advancing one’s career. But is all that hustle worth sacrificing your free time and sanity?
A new survey by Ipsos Consumer Tracker explored what motivates or dissuades Americans from chasing promotions. Work-life balance is a major consideration for many. Ipsos iSay brings you all the important findings regarding career advancement and work-life balance.
58% of American women believe that job promotions are a big deal, compared to 73% of men.
Chasing Promotions or Living Life?
When it comes to moving up in the workplace, the Ipsos representative survey found a bit of a gender gap. About three-quarters of American men (73%) said promotions were a big deal, compared to just over half of American women (58%).
Still, the reasons for wanting a promotion are pretty similar for everyone.
Why We Seek the Promotion
Money remains top of mind, with two-thirds of U.S. adults (69%) saying a bigger paycheck is a top motivator for career advancement. But there's more to the story.
Feeling accomplished (35%), learning new stuff (29%), and having more control over your work (24%) were also popular reasons to chase that promotion, regardless of gender.
Work-Life Balance: A Hurdle on the Path to the Top
The survey also revealed a major hurdle for those hesitant to climb the ladder: work-life balance.
The most-chosen reason people gave for staying put in their careers was simply being happy in their current roles (27%). But dig a little deeper, and you'll find concerns about work-life balance. A quarter of respondents (25%) worried a promotion would mean longer hours.
Others shared concerns about less vacation time (24%), more responsibility (19%), and less ability to control workload or hours (18%). Basically, for many folks, it seems like the pressure of promotion just isn't worth the sacrifice of a low-stress work-life balance.
Additionally, about one in four respondents (24%) said there simply weren't any open or interesting positions available for them to apply to. Just below one-fourth (23%) felt they needed more training and development before they were ready for a promotion, and one-fifth (20%) expressed a lack of support.
69% of Americans say a bigger paycheck is a top motivator for career advancement.
Navigating Career Ambitions and Life Balance
The Ipsos survey also reveals that while men are more likely to chase promotions, the reasons for wanting career advancements are similar across genders. However, it also highlights how important work-life balance is for many employees. Companies that want to attract and retain talent need to create career paths that are both rewarding and realistic and allow for a healthy dose of "me" time.
As for you, this info can help you weigh your own career goals against your desired work-life balance. So, climb that ladder if that's your goal, but remember, a lower-stress career is a worthy ambition as well!
Share your opinions on careers and many other interesting topics by participating in research with Ipsos iSay. Check your dashboard for surveys now!
The Ipsos research shared in this article has been sourced from: https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/women-have-less-desire-advance-their-careers-why
