Majority of employers believe salary is key motivator 

A survey, by HR software company Ciphr, asked 265 UK-based CEOs and senior managers about what motivates their workforces to be more productive.

While 40% said they believed salary to be the top motivator, followed by flexible working (30%), a healthy working environment (29%), respectful and supportive management (28%), and positive feedback.

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Around a quarter of respondents also listed job enjoyment (26%), extra employee perks and rewards (26%), recognition and appreciation (26%), opportunities to learn new skills (25%), and meaningful work (25%) as useful ways to spur employee productivity.

Here is the full list: 

Pay / salary (40%)

Bonus / performance incentives (31%)
Flexible working (30%)
Healthy working environment (29%)
Respectful and supportive management (28%)
Positive feedback (27%)
Enjoying their job (26%)
Extra employee perks and rewards (26%)
Recognition and appreciation of their work (26%)
Opportunities to learn new skills (25%)
Meaningful work (25%)
Being listened to (24%)
Clear career path / development opportunities (24%)
Being encouraged to succeed / encouragement (22%)
Being part of a supportive team (22%)
Having a passion for their work  (22%)
Extra paid annual leave  (22%)
Feeling valued and important to the organisation (22%)
Having a say / being involved in decisions that impact them (21%)
Being challenged at work (in a positive way) (20%)

The poll highlights that there really is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving employee productivity and performance, Ciphr said.

Claire Williams, chief people officer at Ciphr, said: “It’s not surprising to see pay at the top of the list in the current financial climate. However, this research is a good reminder to employers that there are lots of other factors that motivate employees that aren’t pay related, and are great ways to improve engagement and, ultimately, performance, while helping manage salary inflation.”

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The survey was conducted between 6-13 December 2022. Nearly half (45%) of the 265 business leaders and senior managers surveyed run or are employed by organisations with 1,001+ employees, two-fifths (41%) have 251 to 1,000 employees, and one in seven (14%) have 101 to 250 employees.