While the majority (84 per cent) of U.S. workers say they’re at least somewhat happy at work, nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) report some level of burnout, according to a new survey by the Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 1,100 employees and more than 500 employers, found the vast majority (92 per cent) of workers said they aim to do their job well or go above and beyond. Baby boomers (52 per cent) were most likely to agree they go above and beyond at work, followed by millennials (42 per cent), generation X (41 per cent) and generation Z (36 per cent).
More than half (57 per cent) of employers said employees typically work more than 40 hours per week and 55 per cent of workers agreed. While 51 per cent of employers said employees are expected to be available after normal working hours, a third (34 per cent) of workers said they feel pressured to be available.
Read: Survey finds nearly half of U.S. workers experiencing burnout
The survey also noted a disconnect between employers and employees on the factors that drive worker happiness. Beyond salary, employees said the No. 1 driver of happiness is paid time off (37 per cent), followed by work-life balance (29 per cent) and a sense of accomplishment (27 per cent). However, employers said they’re focused on improving work-life balance (46 per cent), employee benefits (43 per cent) and company culture (39 per cent).
More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of employees said strong personal connections with co-workers are important, a percentage that increased to 71 per cent among onsite workers and decreased to 59 per cent among remote workers.
Although more than half (53 per cent) of employers believe employees would prefer to work fully remotely if allowed, only 21 per cent of U.S. workers said this is their preference. More than half of employees said they prefer to work onsite one to four days per week, while a quarter said they prefer being in a physical workplace full time.
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Three-quarters of workers said they feel at least somewhat stressed about their household finances and two-fifths said they feel very or extremely stressed. Roughly a third (30 per cent) of employees said their financial health always or almost always negatively affects their productivity at work, more than the impacts of mental health (24 per cent) and physical health (18 per cent).
“We are in a unique era in the world of work as employers and workers navigate shifting workplace models to discover what will be the new normal,” said Jonathan Bennett, head of group benefits at Hartford, in a press release.
“It is encouraging to see most workers are happy in their jobs, but employers must take note of the burnout trend. Companies that have benefits and programs in place to support the personal and professional well-being of their employees will foster a happy, healthy and productive workforce that can help their company thrive.”
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