As hybrid and remote work has become more common since the pandemic, employers should consider the wants and needs of employees today if they want to attract them back to the office. Health concerns continue to affect workforces globally, and employers may want to consider wellbeing solutions to boost morale.
Employee Wellbeing Survey 2023, a survey report by Mindspace, a boutique office space provider based in Israel, found that two out of three employees report negative wellbeing concerns at work. One quarter said their workplace experience is negative all or most of the time.
“If we translate this insight, we formulate a very unhealthy picture of work life,” the report said. “Healthy and motivated employees are the foundation for a successful business. It’s a simple formula — people who thrive at the workplace are more productive, engaged, and loyal.”
The report reflects the views of 2,000 employees in hybrid or full-time office environments across seven countries.
The corporate world is experiencing a mental health crisis, the report said. These results, along with technology giant HP’s recent findings, reveal the pessimistic outlook of many workers across the world.
According to the Mindspace report, the central contributors to negative wellbeing as expressed by employees are workload (39%), lack of sleep (29%), lack of work/life balance (24%), lack of recognition/rewards (24%), and poor management (24%). Consequently, the most favoured initiative employees want from their employers is flexible work, with 35% saying that flexibility would improve their wellbeing at work.
This reiterates that the hybrid approach to work is still the top employee preference, the report said. Additionally, nearly one third of employees say they would like a shorter workweek. However, the employees of today also want companies to accommodate physical wellbeing incentives: 40% surveyed, for example, say they want their workplace to have gym facilities.
Health concerns and negative wellbeing experiences at work have sparked a disconnect between employees and their jobs, the report said, as many surveyed feel frustrated at work (42%), exhausted (39%), demotivated (38%), and overwhelmed (33%). The report found that these feelings have detrimental effects on many aspects of workplace performance, including productivity and creativity.
The reported noted indicators of some employees engaging in the phenomenon known as “quiet quitting.” Stemming from stress and burnout concerns, 82% of employees surveyed now expect support with work/life balance, the report said.
— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Steph Brown at Stephanie.Brown@aicpa-cima.com.
