Some pretty rough statistics on our lives at work in a recent survey by HP:
-Just 27% of knowledge workers say they have a healthy relationship with work
-More than half report that they are struggling with their mental and physical health
– 76% of those who have an unhealthy relationship with their work are considering leaving the company, 39% say they are disengaged, and a third are less productive
In what seems to me a silver lining, 83% of workers say they’d be willing to earn less to be happier; specifically, they’d take on average an 11% pay cut to work with more engaged colleagues and more emotionally intelligent leadership.
This seems positive to me because it shows a shift in our definition of success–we’re prioritizing connection, engagement, and happiness over the relentless drive for higher status and salary. We have had a rough few years globally, and I think it’s changed us. Here’s hoping our workplaces keep up.