Talent Tug-of-War: Bridging the Employer-Employee Expectation Gap

According to Michael Page's 'Talent Trends 2024 - India Expectation Gap' report, 34% of organizations in India struggle with talent acquisition and retention due to differing priorities between employers and employees. While flexibility, higher salaries, and career progression are mutual concerns, company culture and ethics are more significant to employees than employers realize. Workplace discrimination and the openness to new roles are prevalent, pointing to a need for DE&I initiatives.

According to a new report by Michael Page titled 'Talent Trends 2024 - India Expectation Gap,' 34% of organizations in India face challenges in finding and retaining the right talent. The growing gap between employer expectations and employee realities is making this issue more prominent.

Chief among the concerns are flexibility, higher salaries, and career progression, which are important to both employers and employees. However, the report points out that employees place greater value on company culture and ethics than companies realize, whereas employers overestimate the importance of brand and incentives.

The report, based on interviews with 3,087 respondents across India, indicates a transformative change in workplace dynamics post-pandemic. It reveals a scarcity of applicants with required skills who also align with company culture, and highlights that 41% of respondents in India would refuse a promotion to maintain well-being. Furthermore, it notes a significant issue of workplace discrimination, with 47% of Indian employees reporting such experiences, higher than the Asia Pacific average. Comprehensive DE&I initiatives are deemed necessary to address these systemic issues.