Workplace Happiness: a Myth or a Reality in Morocco?

Rabat- The latest survey by Moroccan-based staffing and recruiting company Rekrute found that only 18% of Moroccan employees are happy at work, showing a significant gender gap with 33% of women satisfied with their jobs, compared to 12% of men – a near threefold increase.

The survey draws attention to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which fueled the growth of temporary jobs and a rise in resignations due to workers’ lack of motivation and fulfillment. 

The study intends to investigate the following; is workplace happiness a myth; what makes Moroccans happy at work; is there a link between corporate culture and happiness at work?

According to the survey, the three most important factors for workplace happiness in Morocco are a higher salary, more interesting positions with better prospects, and respect for work-life balance.

A higher salary is a primary motivator for Moroccan workers to change jobs (31%), followed by the desire for a more interesting position with better career prospects (24%), and a better work-life balance (16%). 

The study attributed these findings to work-from-home positions, which have “reduced employee commitment and distorted working relationships.” It emphasized that employers should focus on matching company culture to workforce values in order to “protect” and “even increase engagement.”

The data also found that Moroccan workers are increasingly opting for a “micro-career” also known as temporary jobs in search of job satisfaction. 

Cultural Fit 

Harmony between the company's values and employee satisfaction is essential to employee happiness.

“Recruitment is like a marriage, for it to last, the values must be shared. Talent retention can only be achieved by relying on predictive tools that measure the fit between the company's culture and the candidate's values,” says CEO of ReKrute Alexandra Montant.

The survey highlighted that cultural fit is an important component of job satisfaction, which translates into employee loyalty.

The data found that 57% of Moroccan employees want to leave their jobs, while 41% are flexible and willing to stay if their employers meet their expectations, particularly in terms of values.

Giving prospective employees a glimpse of the company culture before they are hired is the first step in ensuring happiness at work through cultural fit, reported the study.

96% of Moroccans believe that having information about the corporate culture of their potential employer is very useful. While 65% of new hires are prepared to leave the company if they discover that their values do not align with those of the organization.

The study stressed the importance of happiness at work as it benefits both the company and its employees adding that measuring employees’ happiness at work is a major challenge, especially because professional well-being influences the productivity of the company.

Source: moroccoworldnews