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What Workers Want - From Surviving to Thriving in 2022

What Workers Want to Thrive at Work in 2022

How can organisations empower people to grow, nurture their mental fitness and physical well-being, have flexibility, find meaning and purpose in their work, and define success for themselves? ManpowerGroup researched and analysed responses from over 5,000 frontline, corporate, and call centre workers, as well as job seekers, across five countries (Australia, France, Italy, United Kingdom and United States) to learn what it means to thrive at work.

And we’ve partnered with leading behaviour change technology company Thrive to help turn those insights into action to ensure both organisations and individuals alike are resilient and primed to succeed.

"This is a time of constant change and disruption, but it’s also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how we work and live. Forward-thinking companies need to do away with the zero-sum idea of work and life reflected in the myth of‘ work-life balance ’by embedding well-being into the workflow itself, and investing in our most important resource: our people."

Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO of Thrive

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1. PUSHING THE FLEXIBILITY FRONTIER

Working life changed dramatically for many over the past two years. Hybrid and remote working paved the way for workers to enjoy more control, redefine work and so demand more flexibility.

  • 93% of all people now see flexibility as important to their working lives

  • 45% want to choose start and end times

  • 18% would work a four-day work week for less pay

2. REWRITING THE RULES OF LEADERSHIP 

The shift in workers’ expectations of what they want from their jobs, and their lives, is transforming the relationship between employers and employees.

Workers want workplaces with supportive managers (74%) and trusted leaders (71%) that offer more flexibility, autonomy, trust, coaching and development.

3. THRIVING – THE HOW TO...

To thrive at work, women and men’s needs are different:

MenVsWomen

4. FORGING A FAMILY FRIENDLY FUTURE

As work, school, and home life collided over the past two years, working parents now want more from employers, including:career progression opportunities (75%); meaningful work (74%); support to stay healthy (56% want fitness resources; 54% want healthy food options).

5. FIGHTING BURNOUT, BUILDING MENTAL FITNESS

Mental well-being is high on public and corporate agendas. One in four (25%) workers want more mental health support from employers to protect against burnout.

Conclusion

People don’t just want to survive, they want to thrive. As we’ve seen with the great resignations, reshuffles, and reprioritisation of recent months, they’re willing to vote with their feet. Workers are demanding moremore choice, more flexibility, more autonomy, more well-being. Employers who are willing to stop, listen and, most importantly, take action to attract, nurture and retain the very best talent will win in the most competitive labour market in living memory. 

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