15th Annual Dayforce Pulse of Talent Report: Leaders Face Balancing Act Between Culture and the Need for Efficiency and Agility

Rhea-AI Summary

Dayforce released its 15th Annual Pulse of Talent report, surveying 9,489 workers globally on organizational culture. While 84% of executives and 81% of HR leaders claim active engagement in improving culture, less than half of workers agree. The report introduced a Workplace Culture Index, revealing that 'Culture Promoters' were more satisfied with technology support (85% vs 39%), company benefits (82% vs 21%), and work flexibility compared to 'Culture Detractors'. The study found significant gaps between leadership and workforce perceptions of AI implementation. Notably, 69% of respondents would decline opportunities due to cultural misfit, rising to 75% for those under 35.

Positive

• Strong technology adoption among Culture Promoters (85% satisfaction rate)
• High benefits satisfaction among Culture Promoters (82% satisfaction rate)
• Clear correlation between positive culture and employee retention potential

Negative

• Significant disconnect between leadership and employee perceptions of cultural improvements
• Large gap in AI perception between executives and workers
• Low satisfaction rates among Culture Detractors (21-39% across key metrics)

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The Dayforce Pulse of Talent report reveals significant insights into workplace culture dynamics, highlighting a concerning disconnect between leadership and employee perceptions. The data shows 84% of executives believe they're improving culture, while less than half of workers agree - a gap that could impact Dayforce's market position as an HCM solutions provider.

The research introduces a valuable metric through the Workplace Culture Index, demonstrating that companies excelling in technology support, benefits alignment and work flexibility create stronger cultures. Notably, 69% of respondents would decline opportunities due to cultural misfit, rising to 75% for younger workers. This trend suggests increasing importance of workplace culture in talent acquisition and retention, potentially driving demand for Dayforce's HCM solutions.

The AI perception gap between executives and workers (44% difference in views on responsible AI use) presents both a challenge and opportunity for Dayforce's AI-enabled HCM solutions in the market.

84% of executives, 81% of HR leaders surveyed said their company is actively engaged in improving culture, but less than half of workers agree

MINNEAPOLIS and TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dayforce, Inc. (NYSE: DAY; TSX: DAY), a global human capital management (HCM) leader that makes work life better, today released results from its 15^th Annual Pulse of Talent report. Exploring the current state of organizational culture – and the differing perceptions among workers, managers, HR leaders, and executives – the survey of 9,489 workers from around the world shows that investments many companies are making may not be moving the needle.

“For organizations, cultivating a strong culture is a constant balancing act between productivity and agility and creating a space where people can do their best work,” said Amy Cappellanti-Wolf, Chief People Officer, Dayforce, Inc. “Our research shows that organizations that invest in culture – specifically, aligning their benefits, initiatives, and technology with the needs of their people – will have an advantage when attracting and retaining top talent and building a high-performing workforce.”

With leaders under pressure to quantify the value of every dollar spent, it’s increasingly important their investments in culture drive high performance. For the first time, the Dayforce Pulse of Talent report included a Workplace Culture Index, grouping respondents into three categories – Culture Promoters, Culture Passives, and Culture Detractors. Respondents most positive about their company culture said there were three areas where their company excelled, relative to those who are most negative about their company culture:

• Supporting productivity with the right technology: Culture Promoters were more than twice as likely as Culture Detractors to say they have the technology they need to do their jobs efficiently (85% vs 39%) and to believe that AI will have a positive impact on culture (67% vs 31%).
• Ensuring benefits provided are aligned with worker needs: Culture Promoters were almost four times more likely than Culture Detractors to say their company benefits are good at meeting their needs (82% vs 21%).
• Providing flexible work options: Culture Promoters were more likely than Culture Detractors to say they have flexibility in how (57% vs 28%), when (54% vs 33%), and where (54% vs 30%) they work. Culture Promoters (91%) were three times more likely than Culture Detractors (29%) to say their employer trusts its employees.
  

When it comes to AI, the Pulse of Talent survey found a sizable difference between the perceptions of leaders and their workforce. Surveyed executives were 44% more likely than workers to say AI is used responsibly in their company, 48% more likely to say they have a clear understanding of how it is or will be used, and 48% more likely to say AI supports better decision making. This gap in perception helps show that organizations that are intentional about educating their people about the value, benefits, and use cases of AI may better foster meaningful communication and, in turn, support a stronger culture.

The bottom line is that when it comes to building a productive workforce, culture matters. Nearly seven in ten respondents (69%) said they have or would turn down an opportunity because the culture didn’t feel like the right fit, and that number rises to 75% for respondents under the age of 35. At the same time, respondents indicated that by improving company culture, workers would feel more engaged (51%), experience improved mental health and levels of burnout (47%) and be motivated to work harder (46%).

Additional Information

• Download the report: Calibrating culture in the age of agility
• Read the blog: New research offers a data-driven playbook for building a great company culture  

Survey Methodology
Hanover Research conducted Dayforce’s 15th Annual Pulse of Talent survey online from September 4 to September 20, 2024. The study included 9,489 respondents aged 18+ who work at companies with at least 100 employees across Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Workforce Culture Index featuring Culture Promoters, Culture Passives, and Culture Detractors was based on segmenting the survey data by responses to this question: Thinking only about your employer’s culture, how likely are you to recommend your current employer to your family and friends as a potential employer?

Likelihood to recommend is measured using a 10-point scale, with zero representing "not at all likely to recommend" and 10 representing "extremely likely to recommend.” Respondents that rate themselves as nine or 10 on the likelihood scale are Culture Promoters, while respondents that rate themselves as seven or eight on the likelihood scale are Culture Passives. Respondents that rate themselves zero to six on the scale are determined to be Culture Detractors.

About Dayforce
Dayforce makes work life better. Everything we do as a global leader in HCM technology is focused on improving work for thousands of customers and millions of employees around the world. Our single, global people platform for HR, Pay, Time, Talent, and Analytics equips Dayforce customers to unlock their full workforce potential and operate with confidence. To learn how Dayforce helps create quantifiable value for organizations of all sizes and industries, visit dayforce.com.  

Media Contact
Nick de Pass
nick.depass@dayforce.com
(226) 972-5962

FAQ

What are the key findings of Dayforce's (DAY) 2024 Pulse of Talent report?

The report revealed a significant gap between leadership and employee perceptions of culture, with 84% of executives claiming cultural engagement while less than half of workers agree. It also showed that Culture Promoters were more satisfied with technology, benefits, and work flexibility.

How does workplace culture affect employee retention according to Dayforce's (DAY) 2024 report?

According to the report, 69% of respondents have or would turn down job opportunities due to cultural misfit, with this percentage increasing to 75% for employees under 35 years old.

What is the difference in AI perception between executives and workers in Dayforce's (DAY) 2024 survey?

Executives were 44% more likely to say AI is used responsibly, 48% more likely to understand its use cases, and 48% more likely to believe AI supports better decision making compared to workers.