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Majority of Indian Employees Not Thriving at Work: Indeed and Forrester Consulting study

indeedA joint report by Indeed and Forrester Consulting has found that only 24% of employees in Indian organisations experience high levels of wellbeing at their workplaces. More than three-quarters of all the workers in Indian businesses reported low levels of wellbeing. However, low workplace wellbeing is not unique to India. This is a global problem with survey results indicating that Indian organisations are almost on par with the global average of thriving employees –
25%.

The objective of the report titled “Work Wellbeing In India 2023 Report: How Thriving People Create Thriving Companies” was to measure employee wellbeing statistics and identify their impact on metrics like job performance, workplace productivity, and employee retention levels within organisations.

Employees with higher wellbeing are considered to be ‘thriving at work’. According to the University of Oxford Wellness Research Centre, such employees have the following defining characteristics or experiences – high levels of job satisfaction, low levels of work-related stress, high levels of positivity/happiness, and a clear sense of purpose in their role at the organisation.

Poor Wellbeing Is Often A Sign Of Leadership Issues

In the survey, over 67% of employees agree that their employer is responsible for their work wellbeing. Characteristics of such workplaces include a feeling of inclusivity, acceptance, respectful interactions, and the presence of supportive managers. An overwhelming majority (93%) say their manager displays empathetic leadership, 87% say their manager leads by example. But such instances are few and far between if major studies of workplace culture in India are anything to go by. According to 69% of the employees surveyed, the senior leadership in their organisations expected people to take on more work outside their stated responsibilities.

Mr. Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India said, “Wellbeing at work is an integral part of our daily lives, whether we’re working remotely or in the office. Our findings indicate that emphasis on wellbeing at work will only increase going forward.”

Recruiters Face A Generational Challenge With Gen-Z

The survey results also reveal a clear generational shift in the attitudes of employees toward wellbeing. There are fewer thriving employees from the Gen-Z cohort of 18 to 26-year-olds (20%) when compared to the older Millennials (24%) and Gen-X (27%).

The older employees also express more trust in their employers’ ability to prioritise employee wellbeing. 67% of GenZ believe their employers connect wellbeing and happiness to business success. With Millennials and Gen-X, the figures reported were 78% and 74%.

This divide presents significant challenges for HR and recruitment managers, since over 88% believe it’s important to find companies that care about how you feel.

Key Takeaways for businesses

● The Great Resignation trend from 2021 has already laid bare the disadvantages of a toxic workplace culture. Modern employees, particularly Gen-Z, demand more concrete effort from employers.
● There is a growing demand for better work-life balance, through flexible working arrangements and hybrid work. Employers also need to tone down their expectations regarding ‘hustle culture’.
● Managers can have an oversized impact on employee wellbeing and satisfaction levels. With ever-widening talent gaps in critical sectors like IT and software engineering, employers in India cannot afford to ignore employee wellbeing.

Methodology:

In this Indeed commissioned study, Forrester conducted an online survey of 2,132 respondents in India to evaluate their overall wellbeing at work. Survey participants included adults in the active workforce (i.e., those 18+ working full-time, part-time, or who have been unemployed for less than two years and are open to new opportunities.