Other comments include:

“I believe that I can make more elsewhere!”

“Do not feel valued ($$) to the same extent as other members of senior management.”

“Wages for this level of responsibility and liability are still not where they should be within my particular industry - health care.”

“Too many hours” and not being “compensated for having my CRSP,” are also among other sentiments expressed by our reader panelists.

Staying put
Despite expressing some dissatisfaction over salaries, most of our survey respondents don’t plan on seeking employment elsewhere. When asked whether they had any plans to pursue other employment opportunities in the OH&S field outside of their current organization within the next year, 71 per cent answered in the negative.

While only 28 per cent say they are looking elsewhere, there is no indication of a general satisfaction with their current employer.  Some commented that they are planning to seek greener pastures but not within the next year or two.

“Currently taking a certificate program at a local college and then will seek other employment opportunities,” one reader says.

“Exploring consulting options upon retirement, within 2 years,” comments another reader. “I have been sought after by multiple entities, so don’t get the impression this is an old timer heading out to pasture and not soon enough for the present company - I will retire early from this organization.”

While some are not actively looking at the moment, many comments suggest they are open to any opportunity that may arise.

We also asked our reader panelist about what criteria they feel are the most important when choosing an employer or organization to work for.

An organization’s commitment to workers’ health and safety tops the list of the most important factors that will likely influence a decision to move to a new company, cited by 87 per cent of the respondents.

Elements for quality of life are also top-of-mind with respondents placing work-life balance, compensation package and location as among the more important considerations.

Size of the company and career growth potential, however, did not seem to be much of an influential factor.

“I believe that all of the aforementioned factors are important considerations that would influence my decision with regards to future employment opportunities,” writes one respondent. “But being that I’m an older individual approaching the end of my career I would certainly put more emphasis on the flexible hours, work-life balance, location and commitment to health and safety as higher ranking factors.”

Another reader says, “If the company does not ‘walk the walk’ I want nothing to do with them. It’s time to put a forum together where safety personnel can speak their mind in a ‘safe’ environment. We need to have the ability to vent our frustrations, especially in a ‘forum of understanding.’ Other safety personnel can answer these frustrations and give examples of how they (hopefully) were able to get the job done!”

More reader comments:
“After retiring I plan to carefully choose a company that actually wants to make positive changes, not go through the motions.”

“Empowerment to have the freedom to do the job and not to be micro-managed.”