Employees Feel Employers Unresponsive to Their Needs

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 47 percent of employers regularly seek employee feedback and only 37 percent of that population actually acts on that feedback. The Work and Well-being Survey also found that over one-third of employees admit suffering from chronic work stress, low salaries, declining opportunities for career advancement, and heavier workloads. Just 39 percent of survey respondents said they had enough advancement opportunities and 51 percent reported feeling valued by their employers.

Additionally, 46 percent of respondents reported receiving “proper” financial compensation and 43 percent said they receive non-financial recognition. Another 43 percent said their performance evaluations were fair, leading to fair recognition measurements. Regarding health in the workplace, just over one-third of respondents reported being provided with adequate means for stress management and 44 percent said they have access to enough resources to meet their mental health needs. Finally, 42 percent of survey participants said they are encouraged by their employers to lead healthy lifestyles, 59 percent said they have acceptable employer-sponsored health coverage, and 36 percent reported regularly participating in wellness programs.

“This isn’t just an HR or management issue,” said Norman B. Anderson, Ph.D., CEO of APA. “The well-being of an organization’s work force is a strategic business imperative that is linked to its performance and success.”

Women were found to feel less valued than men in their jobs with just 35 percent of females reporting that they have sufficient career-advancement opportunities compared to 43 percent of male respondents. About 40 percent of overall respondents said they are offered flexible work options and 30 percent said their benefits allow them the freedom to meet non-work demands.