More than two-thirds of execs ''seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being'
Employees in every industry have reported increased stress, anxiety and burnout since the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even the C-suite is suffering from burnout: 69% of the top-earning executives in Corporate America said they were “seriously considering quitting for a job that better supports their well-being,” according to a recent Deloitte survey. Similarly, 56% of C-suite execs said they had already quit a role in the past because it was having a negative impact on their well-being.
“If we’re well and not suffering from burnout, we’re more productive, creative, innovative and more likely to stay,” Alex Powell, director of client cultural insights at Reward Gateway, told HRD. For more than 20 years, she has helped HR and business leaders implement strategies that drive true culture change.
When it comes to supporting employees’ well-being, HR departments often concentrate on the physical and mental aspects. In the past two years, HR leaders may feel like they need to be certified in nutrition, become fitness instructors and be able to recommend desk stretches. But a recent Gallup poll found that career well-being – liking what you do every day – has the strongest impact on overall well-being.
“The good news is if people are more likely to enjoy what they do, that takes care of well-being and burnout,” Powell says, “and that’s something HR teams have always been focused on. We are just now moving into having more intentional strategies for well-being and appreciation that are a focus for the whole leadership team.”
Rewards and recognition remain extremely important – 50% of employees would like to see increased investment in those areas, according to a May survey by Reward Gateway. Nearly half (49%) of employees would like their employer to increase investment in mental, physical and financial well-being resources. These investments aren’t merely nice-to-haves; 40% of employees would leave a job if there was a lack of reward and recognition for their efforts or a lack of financial, physical or mental well-being support.
