Research from Great Place to Work finds that organisations are still struggling to fully meet employees’ needs and achieve workplace well-being.
By Maggie Mancini
Employee well-being is a holistic concept encompassing individuals’ subjective experiences of their working lives. It is an outcome and personal assessment of how people feel about their workplace; for employers, it is all about creating the conditions for them to thrive. Â
Leveraging their research-based Trust Index Survey, Great Place to Work has conducted a U.K. population study, surveying 2,200 employees across 11 sectors. The past few years have been particularly challenging for employers and employees alike due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, employee well-being became a priority for company leaders. Yet, despite years of investment, organisations are still struggling to fully meet employees’ needs and achieve workplace well-being measures. Â
Over half (53%) of U.K. employees say that the demands of their job cause them excessive stress. Stress was highest among frontline managers, with just 37% saying that the demands of their jobs do not cause excessive stress. In comparison, 47% of employees and 44% of mid-level managers report the same. Â
As a result, frontline managers tend to report the lowest levels of well-being among the working population. The combination of high stress, excessive workloads, demands of leading a team, and other pressures significantly impact their well-being. These challenges can cause isolation, burnout, and feelings of being undervalued. Â
In the U.K., 36% of employees frequently think about leaving their current company. Given that nearly half (45%) of employees say they don’t look forward to coming to work, the importance of well-being in retaining staff comes sharply into focus. Â
Prioritising employee well-being can significantly increase retention, boost employee advocacy, and strengthen employee engagement. Employees who experience high levels of well-being in the workplace are three times more likely to stay with their employer. Â
Perks and wellness programmes often fall short of addressing the true needs of employees for enhancing their well-being. By analysing a sample of 1,000 comments from UK employees, Great Place to Work discovered that employees now look for the following to support their personal well-being:Â
- work-life balance and hybrid working;Â
- workload, resourcing, and processes;Â
- people management;Â
- pay and financial security; andÂ
- benefits and well-being programmes.Â