Greater accountability needed as workplace wellbeing declines, study finds

Employee wellbeing has declined across the board, a new report form Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence found.

“For employers, the path forward will likely require a strong focus on delivering immediate impact but ultimately should shift toward a more long-term view — one that prioritizes people over profits,” the report said. “To achieve this, leaders should increase their support for their managers, and they also should hold themselves and their organizations more accountable.”

The C-suite executives surveyed largely are onboard with taking more ownership over matters of wellbeing, with 85% agreeing that organizations should be required to publicly report their wellbeing metrics. However, only about half say their company currently is doing this. Some employees reported that executives are not meeting their expectations when it comes to advancing human sustainability, which is the long-term, collective wellbeing of individuals, organizations, climate and society.

Among other key findings:

• Workforce wellbeing is declining and, in general, employees feel that some executives don’t recognize this.
• For some, work remains an obstacle to wellbeing. Eight in 10 respondents are struggling to improve their wellbeing, with a heavy workload and stressful job topping the list of obstacles.
• Managers can play a pivotal role in employee wellbeing but lack organizational support. Seven in 10 managers say obstacles such as rigid company policies, a heavy workload and an unsupportive workplace culture prevent them from doing more to support their team members.
• Executives generally agree they should be more accountable. Eighty-five percent of C-suite members say they will become more responsible for workforce wellbeing over the next few years.
• Human sustainability is a way forward, but companies should step up their efforts. Organizations that are embracing this concept may be helping their employees become healthier, more skilled and more connected to a sense of purpose and belonging, and they can also be supporting their suppliers and communities. However, although 89% of the C-suite say their company is advancing human sustainability, just 41% of employees agree.

With employee wellbeing worsening, it’s clear that organizations may be at a turning point, the report concluded. If they don’t take action, workforce wellbeing may continue to decline and could have a negative impact on retention of employees, managers and executives.

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“Leaders should be immensely concerned that work continues to be the primary reason why people are both physically and mentally unwell,” said Dan Schawbel, managing partner at Workplace Intelligence. “Employees need to be able to take time off and disconnect, and they shouldn’t be in a constant state of stress and exhaustion due to their jobs. Work can and should be compatible with wellbeing — and it’s up to leaders to deliver on that promise.”