The study found that one in three would feel discriminated against if they were to look for a job in the UK in the current climate. Spanish workers are most likely to feel discriminated against compared to a third of Polish, 32 per cent of French and a quarter of German nationals.
More than half of Europeans currently living in the UK moved here for work-related reasons, either for a specific job opportunity or because of the buoyant job market.
Job satisfaction is high with 65 per cent of those questioned claiming to be satisfied or very satisfied with their current job.
It comes as no surprise that over half of European immigrants cited ‘my job’ as their main reason for staying in the UK.
Worryingly for employers, nearly half of respondents said that the British decision to hold the Brexit referendum has negatively affected their opinion of the country and is forcing some to reconsider their career options outside of the UK.
Alongside job security and impact on personal life, of the 87 per cent of Europeans concerned about the potential Brexit major concerns also include political changes, administrative procedures and currency fluctuations.
Concerns may have been caused by a lack of communication from HR as 61 per cent of respondents said that their HR department has not been keeping them informed about the potential work policy changes if Britain leaves the EU.
John Salt, Group Sales Director at totaljobs, who commissioned the resaerch, said: “It’s clear from our research that European workers in the UK are unsettled by the prospect of Brexit, and this may have an impact on productivity and employee turnover rates for UK employers. With the UK skills shortage already at a critical point, this is not a prospect many employers will relish. Totaljobs knows how important a happy and diverse workforce is to business success, and to see that 65 per cent of Europeans in the UK are satisfied with their jobs is fantastic. To maintain and make the most of this, employers need to communicate with their employees about Brexit and seek to address any concerns they have. It is hard to predict what will happen following Brexit so employers are in a difficult position, however those who support their workforce through this unsettling and uncertain time will reap the benefits in higher staff retention and employee engagement rates going forward.”
The good news for employers is that despite their worries, the majority of EU expats in the UK hope to stay, even if Brexit were to become a reality. The determination to stay is strong; of those hoping to stay 71 per cent would be willing to go through intensive administrative procedures to keep living in the UK after Brexit.
Half of respondents have considered applying for UK nationality and 9 per cent are in the process of applying.
Only 7 per cent of immigrants say they would not try to stay in the UK if it leaves the EU, while 18 per cent are undecided. Of the 7% who would leave the UK, a large majority say they would be gone within two years of Brexit, with an even split between respondents planning to return to their home country and planning to move to another country within the EU.
