Is The 'Green' Movement in the Workplace Fact or Fiction?
 
April 17, 2008—Following a year where the “green” movement has dominated headlines, U.S. workers are paying growing attention to companies’ environmental policies and an increasing number (36%) report that they would be more inclined to work for “green” companies.

However, despite the progress made in Corporate America in terms of eco-friendly practices, 59% of workers think their company should do more to be environmentally friendly and a majority of all adults (68%) believe what most companies say in regard to environmental initiatives doesn't always match their actions, according to the latest Adecco USA Workplace Insight survey.

Other key findings of the survey include:

-No Divide on "Greenwashing":  The majority of all U.S. adults (68%) think that most companies say they are more environmentally friendly than they actually are.  This sentiment does not change widely by age, gender or geography, with all major demographics closely agreeing that "greenwashing" is a reality in today's workplace.

-Giving Up "Green" to "Go Green"?:  Even though the majority of workers think their company should do more to be environmentally friendly, they don't necessarily want to pay for it.  Only 31% of workers would be willing to sacrifice a portion of their salary to work for an environmentally friendly company, with Gen Y workers saying they would sacrifice, on average, 6.2% of their salary—more than double the amount any other generation of workers would be willing to give up (Gen X and Boomers would be willing to sacrifice 2.8% and 2.5% respectively).

-Women and Gen Y Expect More:  While over three out of five working women (63%) and Gen Y workers (69%) want their company to be more environmentally friendly, a smaller majority of men (54%) and Boomers (52%) feel the same.

"As the phrases 'environmentally friendly' and 'employer of choice' continue to become more closely aligned, job seekers are increasingly looking into a company's 'green' policies as part of their job search process," said Tig Gilliam, chief executive officer at Adecco Group North America. "Similar to investigating a company's financial performance and work-life programs, we're seeing more and more candidates doing their homework and looking closely to determine the reality behind a company's claims of environmental friendliness."