Survey finds most employers want workers to adapt while younger staff expect culture to evolve
More than half of Canadian employers (55 percent) believe employees should adapt to company culture—but most job seekers want the opposite, according to a new Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
The data show a growing disconnect between hiring managers and job seekers on who should lead the cultural shift in workplaces.
While 45 percent of employers believe it’s time for workplace culture to evolve with employee expectations, 56 percent of job seekers say the onus is on companies to adapt—highlighting a notable divide in perceptions across the employment landscape.
Generational and gender differences further widen the gap. Women (62 percent) are more likely than men (51 percent) to say companies should adapt.
Younger workers—Gen Z (61 percent) and millennials (63 percent)—also show stronger expectations for cultural change compared to Gen X (43 percent) and boomers (45 percent).
Despite this, employers show signs of flexibility. A significant majority (78 percent) say their organisation is open to changing its culture to meet business needs.
The top drivers include retaining employees (37 percent), improving morale (37 percent), attracting better candidates (31 percent), appealing more broadly to job seekers (31 percent), and reducing burnout (31 percent).
Many companies also feel equipped to maintain their own expectations.
About 82 percent of employers say they have the tools to train new hires to integrate into the existing culture, with 28 percent expressing strong confidence in shaping that alignment from day one.
“When it comes to workplace culture, the most effective path forward is one where both employers and employees are willing to adapt,” said Express CEO Bob Funk, Jr.
He added that success comes from meeting in the middle to create a culture that supports business goals and resonates with today’s workforce.
