There's a wellbeing crisis building, and it’s HR’s job to mitigate the fallout
Despite enjoying the benefits of flexible and hybrid models, a new report found that 97% of employees between and 18 and 34 years old are burned out. The latest 360 Global Well-Being Survey from Cigna International revealed the effects of hybrid and flexible work among young people, who’ve been the most impacted by workplace changes over the past year.
The data found that 40% of young employees are worried about the rising costs of living, 20% are stressed over the lack or learning and development opportunities, and many more are struggling to engage in their work despite feeling that they are "always on."
Read more: The real reasons employees are 'burned out'
"All over the world, the younger generation has been most impacted by the changes in workplace culture," said Jason Sadler, president at Cigna International Markets. "While they welcome the move to flexible working models, they need support to adapt to the new work culture. Employers need to ensure all employees, especially younger staff members, have the opportunities to develop and grow in their careers. They also need to be careful that 'out of sight' isn't 'out of mind,' and that Whole Health and well-being forms a central pillar of their business and workplace strategy."
What’s more, 48% of employees between ages 18 and 34 are already looking for new jobs amid the economic uncertainty. Up to 73% of employees between 25 and 34 years old and 71% of employees between 18 and 24 years old are also spending more time evaluating their priorities. Michelle Leung, HR officer at Cigna International Markets, warned employers against complacency in the flexible workplace era, which she said could result to a "generational divide."
"Remote work shouldn't mean less opportunity, growth or sense of belonging for younger people," said Leung. "If we are not careful, this could quickly escalate into a generational divide – those who built lasting professional careers during the years of traditional onsite work, and those who were disenfranchised during the remote transition – the, so called, Great Resignation and the Quiet Quitting phenomena.
Read more: Managers are burning out – and it's leading to a culture crisis
"The workplace is fundamentally changed. More than ever, bosses and managers need to tune into employee needs if they want to retain good staff. They need to invest more time and consideration to help employees grow, get satisfaction from their jobs and to perform at their best."
