How do American Executives Feel About Money, Love, Office Politics and Their Prospects for Getting Ahead?
TheLadders.com Offers Insight into Executive Psyche with Release of Survey Highlights from 2004 - 2007
NEW YORK (December 19, 2007) - In its ongoing quest to know the executive job market inside-out, TheLadders.com, the world's leading online marketplace for $100k+ jobs, has been surveying its members since its launch in 2004. Over that time, TheLadders.com has left no stone unturned and few taboos untouched, covering everything from the frequency of office romances to the value of advanced degrees. Now, with several dozen surveys under its belt, and in the spirit of reflection that comes with the season's first snowfall, TheLadders.com releases its "greatest hits" compilation, offering a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the executive job market.
Separated into three basic categories - Money & Getting Ahead; Work/Lifestyle; and Office Politics - TheLadders.com survey data is sampled from registered $100k+ wage earners who were active in the job market between 2004 and 2007. Following is a summary of the insights gleaned over the past four years:
MONEY & GETTING AHEAD:
Does an MBA matter in the real business world?
57% of executives said the advanced degree is nice, but not necessary.
What's the most useful second language for today's business people?
61% of executives said it was Spanish, followed by 16% who chose Chinese.
Stock options: great incentive or lame substitute for cold cash?
32.5% said stock options are an integral component to a pay package; 24.9% would prefer more cash; and 20.5% said options are "gravy" but not a big motivator.
Are overseas assignments a blessing or a curse?
70% of executives said the prospect of an overseas assignment would be an exciting opportunity.
Body of evidence: can physical fitness help your career?
75% of executives surveyed said physical fitness is critical for career success at the executive level.
WORK/LIFESTYLE:
Can Cupid strike the cubicle?
68% of executives said they've harbored secret crushes on their co-workers; 17% confess to having inter-office affairs.
Do people in power prefer khakis?
79.1% of executives said they prefer to wear either business casual or outright casual attire for work and another 62% said that business casual is now standard office dress code.
Do executive dads yearn for stay-at-home status?
62% of men in the country's top income bracket said they would put their careers on hold to become stay-at-home dads.
What are the most common holiday party faux pas?
Drinking too much alcohol is the number one mistake, according to 79% of executives; flirting with co-workers ranks second with 53% of the vote; followed by dirty dancing (42%) and inappropriate outfits (41%).
Fewer Blackberries on vacation this year?
79% of executives planned to take a vacation in 2007 and few of them planned to stay connected to the office. 51% said they'd check in once or twice and 34.5% said they wouldn't check once.
OFFICE POLITICS:
Does the glass ceiling still exist?
72% of executives said men get paid more than women for the same work, and 66.3% said women do not have as many opportunities as men to become company CEOs.
Is "ageism" keeping older workers out of the top income workforce?
69% of executives said they've fallen victim to age discrimination, yet 51% said they plan to continue working after "retirement."
Looking for a new job on the company dime?
52% of executives in the $100k+ job market said they actively search new job listings at work.
Does religion have a home in the workplace?
It depends on where you live: 44% of executives from "Red States" said religion does belong in the workplace, while just 24% of their "Blue State" counterparts agreed.
Corporate social responsibility: lip service or critical to business success?
89.2% of executives said it is a company's duty to be socially responsible, and 87.3% said they would not work for a company that had a reputation for negative social responsibility.
TheLadders.com surveys were conducted between June 2004 and November 2007 and included a total of over 17,000 executives. The results of each survey are statistically significant; detailed results and margins of error for each question are available upon request.