We spend almost a third of our lives at work. So it’s not an understatement to say that our workplaces have a big impact on our day-to-day well-being. Unfortunately, many employees feel their employers don’t do a good job of caring for them. Read on to learn more about caring in the workplace and why it’s in every organization’s best interest to prioritize employee care.
Employees’ relationship with work has changed.
Over the past several years, employees have begun to reevaluate how work fits into a healthy, balanced life. They are increasingly asking employers to provide support for their holistic well-being—not only at work, but also in their personal lives.
Many employers have responded—augmenting mental health benefits, expanding support for caregiving and financial wellness, and adopting a more flexible approach to work.
And yet, it might not be enough.
Many employees feel their organization doesn’t care about their well-being.
Just one in four employees in our 2025 Workplace and Employee Survey strongly agree their organization cares about their well-being. In other words, three in four people don’t feel confident their organization cares.
Our research also revealed a big gap in how senior leaders and employees feel about the extent to which the organization cares. Senior leaders were twice as likely to strongly agree their organization cares about their well-being, compared to individual contributors.
It’s no wonder that current employee engagement is at the lowest level in a decade at just 31%.
What does it mean to care for employees in the workplace?
It’s tempting to think that showing “care” is simply the benefits and perks an employer might offer to employees. But in reality, it’s so much more. Each aspect of the employee experience—what employees do, their compensation, the benefits and programs that exist to support them, professional growth and training, how they’re treated by leadership and their managers, and the overall culture of the organization—represents an opportunity to show employees care.
What our research revealed about employee perception of care.
We found these six key elements that contribute to feeling cared for at work.
- Keeping employees informed about policies and plans. Employees want to know what’s expected of them and don’t want to be blindsided by new goals or a new organizational structure. Being able to plan for and manage change by receiving timely communication is critical for employees’ overall well-being.
- Leadership valuing employee input. Employees want to be heard and appreciate being asked for their input, but when leadership never mentions the results, or doesn’t share how the organization will follow up, employees lose trust.
- Taking meaningful action on employee feedback. When employees see their feedback come to life in the form of new policies and programs, they feel their employer has really listened to them versus just collecting data.
- Manager support. Managers play a significant role in how employees feel. When managers take the time to care about employees’ lives outside of work, have regular one-on-ones, monitor workload and nurture employees’ career development, employees are more engaged.
- Psychological safety. A psychologically safe environment is one in which employees feel comfortable speaking up without fear. It’s an essential ingredient in feeling cared for.
- Belonging within the organization. Employees want to feel their organization values the different parts of their identity and that they can be their authentic selves at work.
The bottom line: caring matters. Respondents in our study who felt their organization cared about their well-being rate these six key elements up to 91% higher than employees who don’t feel cared for. This translates to a monumental difference in the way these two groups of employees experience the workplace each day. What ties each of these six elements together is that they all reflect a deep human need for trust, for connection and for knowing they matter to their manager, senior leaders and the organization as a whole.
Why it’s important for organizations to care for employees.
Caring for employees isn’t just a nice thing to do.
Research by the McKinsey Health Institute in collaboration with the World Economic Forum indicates that enhanced employee health and well-being could generate up to $11.7 trillion in global economic value. They add, “Organizations that prioritize health often see marked improvements in productivity, reduced absenteeism, lower healthcare costs, and heightened employee engagement and retention.”1
Our own research found that those employees who feel cared for are:
- 56% more engaged
- 34% more likely to stay with their employer
- 34% less likely to experience stress
- 37% less likely to experience burnout
The effects of feeling cared for at work also carry over into employees’ personal lives. Those who felt cared for experienced:
- 70% higher overall well-being across multiple dimensions, including physical, mental, work, social and financial well-being
- 33% higher overall life satisfaction
- 6% less stress
As employees redefine their relationship with work, it’s critical for employers to keep pace. Looking at the employee experience through the “lens of care” is one way to ensure that employees feel connected to the organization, are engaged in their work and feel supported in all aspects of their holistic well-being. If you’d like to start a conversation about how a well-being program can demonstrate employee care, request a demo today.
