According to new Index, employees seek more emotional connection at work

Unhealthy relationships with work are all too common in Australia, and across the globe, according to survey results from HP Australia’s first-ever Work Relationship Index. Many employees also recognise they want personal satisfaction from their workplace but they’re often left wanting more.

Key points

• Just 22% of those surveyed in Australia said they have a healthy relationship with work: out of the 12 countries included in the survey, this ranked fifth-lowest
• 80% said they consider leaving their job when negative feelings are at their strongest
• Employees also reported they’re feeling less productive and more disengaged at work, while two-thirds said they struggle with their self-worth and mental health
• Meanwhile, 83% said they would be willing to earn less money in a different job if it meant loving work more

HP Australia’s Work Relationship Index 2023 looked at over 50 aspects of people’s relationships with work to create a broad understanding of the role work plays in their lives, their skills and abilities, and even their expectations of leadership. 

With Australia sitting at the lower end of the scale with one in five employees enjoying a positive relationship with work, the nation also ranked highest for the negative impact that poor relationship has. 

Almost 70% said unhealthy relationships with work have impacted their physical health (eating more unhealthy foods, poor sleep, weight gain), while 65% said their mental health (low self-esteem, feelings of failure and isolation) was affected.

Bradley Pulford, HP Australia Managing Director said the findings show there’s a huge opportunity for employers to strengthen those relationships and achieve positive outcomes that are good for people and for business. 

“As leaders, we must always reject the false choice between productivity and happiness. The most successful companies are built on cultures that enable employees to excel in their careers while thriving outside of work,” Mr Pulford said.

What drives a healthy work relationship?

Although HP’s survey focused on current perceptions of work, it also asked how employee expectations of work have changed. Just over half of employees, 55%, said they want to get more out of work while 58% said they have higher expectations of how they’re treated by employers.

With that in mind, what exactly drives a healthy work relationship? According to HP, there are six core drivers and leaders should look to each one when seeking ways to improve the employee experience. They are:

1. Fulfilment: Employees seek more purpose and empowerment from their jobs, including a genuine connection to their work. However, just 23% have this connection and businesses should explore ways to support employee fulfilment by giving them greater voice and agency.
2. Leadership: Two-thirds of leaders said they need to bring new leadership styles to the table as businesses evolve, yet less than one-fifth of employees believe their leaders have changed. More empathetic leaders who can tap into their emotional intelligence are essential.
3. People-centricity: With employees prioritising respect, autonomy and value, there is an increased desire to see managers lead by example. Leaders should put people first and place their teams at the heart of decision-making processes. 
4. Skills: Unfortunately, just 26% of respondents said they feel proficient with technical skills related to their job. Although aged care is a sector where training is crucial, drawing inspiration from these survey results shows it’s always a good time to invest in skills development, holistic training and support. 
5. Tools: Technology is not just the future, it’s the present. But even though 76% of employees said it’s important to have the right tools at work, just 27% said they are accessible. Employees should be armed with the tools and technology they need to achieve the best possible work outcomes.
6. Workspace: The evolution of hybrid workspaces means employees want to seamlessly move between workspaces, locations and environments. Workspace flexibility is crucial. 

Emotional connections and trust are the future

Interestingly, emerging markets such as India, Brazil and Mexico, are not just catching up but creating the new normal for workplace relationships. These developing economies are incubating positive work cultures and healthy work environments far more than developed economies. 

For example, where India and Indonesia rank highly for increased expectations of the quality of their relationship with work, Japan and the United Kingdom rank poorly. Australia sits in the middle.

There was a consensus between employers and employees that the future of work is built on emotional connection. This means emotions should no longer be hidden at work, with personal connections, empathy and emotional expression all needed to forge a positive work relationship.

• Australia ranked highly in this regard with 65% saying it’s important to encourage emotional expression in the workplace while 77% of leaders said empathetic leadership is important
• 83% of people today are willing to earn less if it means loving work more, with Gen Z stating they would sacrifice up to 15% of their wages to work somewhere with empathetic and emotionally intelligent leadership

Now is a pivotal time for change, particularly if your employees are among a cohort that recognises new leadership styles, flexible workplaces and emotional connections are a must-have at work. Providing this, and more, will strengthen your relationships with staff.