Are your employees satisfied and happy with their jobs? 

A new study has found that employers need to do more to help increasingly disengaged employees create a healthy relationship with work.
By: | September 22, 2023
Topics: Employee Experience | Health and Wellness | News | Recruitment | Talent Management

Are employees enjoying healthy relationships with work? This may be a question that organisations will increasingly have to answer, after a new study found that employees with an unhealthy relationship with work have an adverse impact not only on their lives, but also on their employer’s business.

According to the new HP Work Relationship Index study, which surveyed more than 15,600 knowledge employees across various industries in 12 countries, only 27% say they have a strong relationship with their work, with as many as 83% indicating that they were willing to take a pay cut to feel content at their jobs.

Less satisfaction with their jobs saw an adverse effect on their work: over a third of respondents (34%) reported less productivity, 39% were more disengaged with their work, and 38% felt greater feelings of disconnection, with 91% of respondents considering leaving their jobs.

The response was also not positive with respondents neutral about their jobs: more than 71% of respondents were open to leaving their jobs. The toxic relationship with work also impacted their wellbeing: more than half of the respondents (55%) struggled with low self-esteem and failing mental health; 45% of the respondents saw poor personal relationships with friends and loved ones, and more than half too drained to enjoy hobbies (59%); and 62% of the respondents were unable to maintain any healthy habits. 

The research focused on six factors that employers should focus on to revitalise employees and their enjoyment at work, such as prioritising employee fulfilment and purpose; cultivating new leadership styles; making sure their employees are considered first when it comes to making decisions; investing in employees by developing opportunities to train and support them; allowing employees to have a say in the technology and tools they use; and giving employees a choice in creating effective workspaces, wherever or whenever they are.

READ MORE: Workforce satisfaction declining among employees in Singapore

More importantly, greater trust and emotional connection will be key in attracting and retaining employees, with leaders encouraged to improve their emotional intelligence to help create a strong and flexible workplace culture for all employees, said HP.