The New Workplace Currency: It's Not Just Salary Anymore [INFOGRAPHIC]

Times are changing.

A new Cisco study has revealed some dramatic shifts in what future employees expect from their employers. Unlike in the past, it's not just about the highest salary.

The study revealed that one in three college students and young employees under the age of 30 said that they would prioritize social media freedom, device flexibility, and work mobility over salary in accepting a job offer. 

40% of college students and 45% of young employees said they would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility.

More than half of college students globally (56%) said that if they encountered a company that banned access to social media, they would either not accept a job offer or would join and find a way to circumvent corporate policy. 

About two of three college students (64%) said they plan to ask about social media usage policies during job interviews, and one in four overall (24%) said it will be a key factor in their decision to accept an offer. 

In reality, more than two of five employees (41%) said their companies marketed a flexible device and social media policy to recruit and attract them. Almost a third of the employees globally (31%) believe their comfort level with social media and devices was a factor in their hiring.

At least one in four employees (29%) globally said the absence of remote access would influence their job decisions, such as leaving companies sooner rather than later, slacking off, or declining job offers outright. 

Half of college students and young employees (49%) said they would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone or mobile device. The days of one device are over. More than three of every four employees (77%) have multiple devices, such as a laptop and a smartphone or multiple phones and computers.

One in three employees globally (33%) uses at least three devices for work. As evidenced in the data above, a majority of college students globally – seven of every 10 (71%) – believe that company-issued devices should be allowed for personal and business use because of the blending of work and personal communications in their daily lifestyle. 

Four of five college students (81%) want to choose the device for their job – either receiving budgeted funds to purchase the work device of their choice or bringing in a personal one in addition to standard company-issued devices.

About seven in 10 employees (68%) believe their companies should allow them to access social media and personal sites with their work-issued devices. More than two out of five college students globally (42%) believe companies should be flexible and empathetic to their need to stay connected via social media and personal websites. 

 Three out of 10 students globally (29%) feel that once they begin working, it will be their right – more than a privilege – to be able to work remotely with a flexible schedule. Currently, more than half of employees (57%) can connect to their corporate network from some remote locations, but only one out four (28%) can do so at anytime, from any location. Two in five (43%) consider it a critical function of their job to be able to connect to the network from any location at any time. 

Seven of 10 college students (70%) believe it is unnecessary to be in the office regularly, with the exception of an important meeting. In fact, one in four feel their productivity would increase if they were allowed to work from home or remotely.

The global figures were mirrored by employees as well, with 69% believing office attendance was unnecessary on a regular basis. In contrast, the 2010 report showed that three of five (60%) employees (of all ages) believed it was unnecessary to be confined to offices. The 2011 version‟s finding indicates that the expectation of the next-generation workforce is increasingly emphasizing work flexibility, mobility, and non-traditional workstyles. 

More than half of the college students and employees want to access corporate information over corporate networks using their home computers (63%) and personal mobile devices (51%).