Employee Well-being Starts From the Top

Employees and executive-level company executives worldwide are struggling to prioritise their well-being, and for the most part, work is to blame. The situation is so awful that 57% of employees and over 70% of the C-suite are seriously considering leaving for a position that better promotes their well-being. 

This data is according to a report produced by Deloitte in partnership with independent research firm Workplace Intelligence, which evaluates the C-suite's involvement in organisational well-being and how an overall bad state of health affects retention for both workers and executives.

Despite this mutual struggle, the C-suite is largely unaware that workers are having difficulties with their well-being. This dissonance can potentially worsen the situation if leaders do not do more to understand their workers' needs and show that they genuinely care about their holistic well-being.

Among the report's key conclusions are:

 

People's well-being is affected by their jobs

People's jobs affect their health, and many have stated that they will ultimately quit. Notably, 63% of employees and 73% of the C-suite indicate that their jobs do not allow them to disconnect from work. 

According to the findings, enhancing one's well-being is more important to 68% of employees and 81% of the C-suite than growing one's career right now.

 

Many employers are not aware of their staff's well-being

The pandemic has harmed everyone's health, but CEOs are unaware of how much their staff are suffering. One-third of workers and executives report feeling weary, pressured, overwhelmed, lonely, or melancholy "often" or "often." 

Despite this, only about half of the staff and two-thirds of the C-suite reported using all of their vacation time, taking breaks during the day, getting enough sleep, and making time for friends and family.

Despite their personal issues with well-being, executives vastly overestimate how well their staff are doing and how well their leaders assist them. For example, only 65% of employees describe their physical health as "good" or "excellent," whereas 89% of CEOs say their people are prospering. 

In addition, only 56% of employees believe their company's leaders care about their well-being, whereas 91% of the C-suite believe they are caring leaders.

 

Employers believe they should do more

The C-suite must take more ownership and action in health-related concerns. A massive 95% of the C-suite agree that they should be accountable for their employees' well-being, but these emotions are not being translated into action; 68% acknowledge that they are not doing enough to protect employee and stakeholder health. And, given that only 31% of employees believe their leaders are health-savvy, it is clear that they believe leaders should take more initiative in health-related concerns.

Despite the fact that work typically works against well-being, health-savvy leaders have the capacity to redefine well-being for both themselves and their employees, but they must do more. Well-being is a major priority in today's workplace, but the path to health-conscious leadership will be difficult. Executives, on the other hand, stand to benefit greatly by accepting this new reality. They may discover that they can finally prioritise their "own" well-being – a vital development that could enable them to stay the course in their profession and become steadfast advocates of a better future.

 

Should employers do more for their employees?

Jen Fisher, Deloitte's chief well-being officer said that while it is encouraging that many CEOs believe they should be accountable for employee well-being, many also believe they are not taking enough action. 

She said that it is time for the C-suite to become more health-conscious by embracing their role's growing emphasis on well-being. This essential transformation will improve not only their personal and their employees' well-being but also the long-term performance of their enterprises.

 

The findings are based on a poll of more than 2,100 employees and C-level executives in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia performed by Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence in February 2022. Access the complete study here for additional information.

 

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