FROM SURVIVING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC TO THRIVING AT WORK: MANPOWERGROUP RESEARCH EXPLORES WHAT FLEXIBILITY MEANS FOR WORKERS; PARTNERS WITH THRIVE TO IDENTIFY WAYS EMPLOYERS CAN SUPPORT EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING

• 45% of workers want to choose their own work start and end times
• Almost one fifth of workers (18%) would work a four-day work week for less pay
• A culture of trust is important; 71% of workers need trust in leadership to thrive
• Well-being now an essential strategy for hiring and business success

MILWAUKEE, Wis., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers are calling for more from their employers to help them shift from surviving to thriving, prioritizing flexibility along with factors such as trust, purpose, and well-being, according to new research from ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), and Thrive, the leading behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington. 

Download the report, "What Workers Want: From Surviving to Thriving at Work" here.

The research, part of ManpowerGroup's What Workers Want series, is based on a survey of more than 5,000 workers across five countries and reveals that almost all workers (93%) now view flexibility as important. However, the nature of that flexibility varies. Workers from all backgrounds are now asking for flexibility on their own terms, with 45% wanting to choose their own start and end times, and 18% willing to reduce pay to work a four-day week to achieve better balance. The results also point to a changing role for leaders as trust and shared values are increasingly significant – with workers willing to vote with their feet if they do not feel adequately supported. 

“A lasting legacy of the pandemic will be flexibility, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. Workers want more choice, autonomy, and consideration for their well-being.” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chairman & CEO. “We’re seeing the highest talent shortages in 16 years, giving workers at almost every level and in every sector the upper hand. Employers have no choice but to pay attention. The challenge for leaders will be to listen, adapt, and think differently about how to approach flexibility, not just flexible working.”

ManpowerGroup partnered with Thrive to identify immediate actions that employers can take to support employee well-being. By adopting practices like Entry Interviews, creating a culture of compassionate directness, and encouraging employees to practice Microsteps, companies can create long-lasting cultural change.

“The disruptions of the past two years have forced us to consider what we really value, and we have a once-in-generation opportunity to rethink the way we work and live,” said Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive. “We were in the middle of a global epidemic of stress and burnout even before COVID. Then the pandemic hit, and employee well-being and resilience shot to the top of the agenda for companies all over the world. At Thrive, we work with companies who realize that their most important resource is their people. They’re seeing the direct connection between the long-term health of their bottom line and the health and well-being of their employees.” 

Trust is important for a thriving workforce, according to the survey. Trust in colleagues was rated second only to fair pay and safe working conditions by workers (79%), while trust in leaders was rated highly by more than two-thirds (71%). Additionally, people want to work for companies that share their values and beliefs, with 70% seeking meaning in their daily work.

The pandemic put mental health firmly at the top of public and corporate agendas and workers now see well-being as a shared responsibility with employers. Stress levels have dropped since the peak of the pandemic (42% to 38%) but are still higher than pre-March 2020. Increasingly, employers will be called on to address burnout, build resilience, and boost mental fitness.

The What Workers Want: From Surviving to Thriving at Work data provides clear insight and practical recommendations for organizations to understand what workers want to thrive at work, and what employers need to do now to ensure both organizations and individuals are primed to succeed.

Explore the new research: What Workers Want: From Surviving to Thriving at Work here.

About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity - as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2022 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the thirteenth year - all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

About Thrive
Thrive is a leading behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington in 2016 with the mission to end the stress and burnout epidemic. Thrive helps individuals and organizations improve well-being, performance and mental resilience with its AI-powered behavior change technology platform. Thrive's Microsteps – small, science-backed steps to improve health and productivity – have been adopted by employees at more than 125 organizations in over 140 countries, from frontline and call center workers to executives at multinational companies. Thrive Global is headquartered in New York City and has offices in San Francisco, Dublin, Athens, Bucharest and Melbourne. For more information, visit www.thriveglobal.com.

*About the Research: ManpowerGroup researched and analyzed responses from over 5,000 frontline, corporate, and call center 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 behavior change technology company Thrive to help turn those insights into action to ensure both organizations and individuals alike are resilient and primed to succeed. Research was carried out by Reputation Leaders surveying workers aged 18 and over, balanced by age, gender in 5 countries, across five countries, Australia, France, Italy, United Kingdom and United States.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup