Employees worldwide are less loyal now than they were before the 2008 financial crisis, with the number of employees looking to leave their jobs continuing to increase, a new study by Mercer reveals.

According to the "What's Working" survey, which polled nearly 30,000 employees in 17 geographic markets from the fourth quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2011, there is a 10 percentage point increase in the number of staff seriously considering leaving their organisations.

In India, this number rose 28 per cent from 2006. In China and Australia, the number of potential defectors increased 16 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. 

As to the question why they are thinking of leaving, nonfinancial factors appear to play a prominent role in influencing motivation and engagement. Worldwide, workers polled said that being treated with respect is paramount above all, followed by work/life balance, type of work, quality of co-workers and quality of leadership. 

As regards the financial reasons, base pay ranked highest globally. In Hong Kong, for instance, base pay was mentioned as the top factor. Pay also figured in the top three most important factors in China, India, Italy and Singapore. 

"Employee engagement reflects the total work experience, and a big part of it is how you are treated, what kind of work you do and how you feel about your co-workers, bosses and the general work environment," saidBrenda Wilson, Asia-Pacific leader for talent management atMercer. 

"Without a doubt, financial factors like pay and benefits are a vital part of the employment deal, but employers need to consider and manage the full range of factors to ensure that their workforce is engaged," she added.

The full report may be viewed here.