Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
Finding a work-life balance is one of the main reasons people look for flexible jobs. When faced with a toxic work environment or symptoms of burnout, overworked professionals often turn to jobs with flexible hours and remote work arrangements in search of employee well-being.
Additionally, a growing number of professionals are looking for companies with a four-day work week in pursuit of a better life at work.
Amid the growing debate about remote work and the changing workplace, FlexJobs surveyed more than 3,000 US-based professionals to gain insight into their workplace experiences.
The survey examined how today’s work environment affects employees’ choices and perceptions about the future of work, including their health and well-being.
FlexJobs’ 2024 Workforce Wellness Report found that 28% of respondents experience daily stress from working beyond their normal hours.
Another 30% feel overworked at least weekly (12%) or a few times a month (18%). Therefore, the majority of workers (70%) feel that companies should reconsider the 40-hour work week.
More Employees Want Shorter Workweeks and Flexible Schedules
While 11% of survey respondents prefer to keep the five-day work standard in place, 89% of workers favor compressed schedules and four-day work weeks.
The job variable preferences among the experts surveyed were as follows:
- 32% prefer to follow a four-day work week.
- 32% chose a flexible schedule with the ability to choose their working hours.
- 25% want a performance-based program, where hours are based on goals.
“FlexJobs’ research findings highlight the rise of an unhealthy ‘hustle culture’ and the stress of overwork,” said Toni Frana, Lead Career Specialist at FlexJobs.
“It is imperative that employers focus on developing organizations that prioritize work-life balance over burnout in order to foster healthier, more productive, and engaged teams in 2025,” added Frana.
Overactive and Toxic Managers Named Top Workplace Stressors
Of the 58 percent of respondents who indicated that they felt pressured to work more than their normal hours, 80 percent reported that they put up with a toxic workplace for fear of losing their jobs.
The top stressors from these toxic workplaces include “overload” (34%), “toxic managers” (31%), and “unreasonable expectations from managers” (31%).
Some of the most stressful jobs employees face include:
- Insecurity at work (29%)
- Work-life limitations (24%)
- Hard work colleagues (23%)
- Layoffs (23%)
- Changes within the organization (22%)
- Lack of time (21%)
Whether it is a result of these challenges or a matter of enduring these stressors for the sake of job security, more than one-third of respondents reported feeling “stuck” (37%) in their current job. Another 37% feel “overwhelmed,” while 34% feel “stressed” or “burned out” in their roles.
Notably, these negative feelings at work were rated higher than positive, with only 11% of respondents feeling “engaged,” 8% feeling “enthusiastic,” and 7% feeling “happy” in their current roles.
Employees’ Feelings About Their Workplaces
Employees also reported the following feelings about their current working conditions:
- Dissatisfied (33%)
- Dismissed (26%)
- Bored (21%)
- Satisfied (17%)
- Apathy (16%)
- Ambivalent (11%)
- Content (9%)
Stress at Work Badly Affects Sleeping and Eating Habits
Due to work pressure, almost three-quarters (72%) of respondents said they had difficulty sleeping or changed their sleep patterns.
In addition, more than half (54%) have turned to comfort food or unhealthy snacks, and 48% have shown irritability or short-tempered anger.
Other unhealthy behaviors or coping mechanisms reported as a result of work stress include:
- Postponing or avoiding activities (47%)
- Physical symptoms such as headache (46%)
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions (44%)
- Excessive caffeine consumption (39%)
- Negative self-talk or gossip (38%)
- Isolation from friends and family (32%)
- Increased screen time or reliance on social media (25%)
- Increase in alcohol (20%)
Remote Work Is Seen By Many As The Solution To Better Mental Health
Shifting work-life balance priorities for employees are also reflected in respondents’ views on paid vacation time and flexible working – namely remote and hybrid workplaces.
More than half of respondents (62%) to FlexJobs’ Workforce Wellness Report said they plan to take or have already taken all of their paid vacation time by 2024. In contrast, only 34% have not.
In addition to paid time off, almost all respondents agreed that remote and hybrid workplaces are the best work arrangements for their mental health:
- 56% say that the remote location is the best for their mental health.
- 43% agreed that a hybrid workplace, which includes a combination of remote and office work, was better for their mental health.
- Only 1% said that being in the office full time and not working remotely at all was best for their mental health.
In addition, the survey showed that respondents are not only interested in remote workplaces but especially jobs from anywhere that do not involve any local or regional requirements.
Many Would Give Up Paying for Conformity
More than half (58%) of survey takers said they would accept a pay cut for the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere.
Of these respondents, 31% said they would accept a 5% pay cut, 19% said they were willing to accept a 10% pay cut, and 8% would accept a 20% pay cut to work anywhere.
In order to protect the flexibility of work from any location, the employees said that they will take turns:
- Fewer opportunities for professional development (24%)
- Company-sponsored health insurance (14%)
- Increase in working hours (14%)
- Company contributions focused on retirement (12%)
- Reduced vacation days (12%)
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