Nicola Grant, chief people officer at British insurance provider Hiscox, says she has noticed a broader shift in the way people think about their careers.

Increasingly, people – particularly early in their careers, he says – want to gain broad experience more quickly, rather than following a single, linear path. They are building a portfolio of skills.

It also found that there is a greater willingness among younger employees to move if they feel their development is slowing or that their options are limited.

“Expectations have changed; people want variety, pace and developing skills that remain relevant,” he says, “It’s about a desire for growth.”

“Ultimately, this benefits both the individual and the organization,” he adds.

Lucy Kemp, strategic brand and communications leader at IT company La Fosse and employee experience specialist, agrees.

To her, lily padding is the future of work, not just a trend, as people who follow this tactic try to achieve higher positions and higher salaries.

“Younger people have realized that loyalty doesn’t pay off,” says Kemp. “They want to shape their own careers, based on the skills they value.

“There’s a different sense of accomplishment than older generations, a completely different work experience,” he says.

Kemp also notes that in-office peer learning hasn’t happened as much since the pandemic, as people work from home and AI takes over basic tasks.

Instead, people are looking for skills that will be relevant five years from now. And they’ll get them by moving to a project on another team, moving to another sector, or working at another company, Kemp says. “People just want to learn something new and have a purpose.”

That’s how Harris-Nelson feels. “I see my career as a continuous journey rather than a destination,” he says. “I’m always learning and growing.”