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"Mismatched workers," a demographic of employees working in an arrangement they're uncomfortable with, are increasingly struggling with well-being and unhappiness at work, according to corporate wellness platform Gympass's latest study, "The State of Workplace Wellness."
Thirty-eight percent of workers who were in the office but preferred remote work, or vice-versa, were twice as likely to say they were struggling with their well-being and twice as likely to be
Return-to-work doesn't work for everyone
As employers look for a fresh start after years of pandemic-influenced work decisions, it's critical they make efforts to address well-being for all employees, even if it doesn't align with the
"Mismatched workers have higher stress levels, lower emotional well-being, a loss of sleep, and things like that," she says. "It shows me that even though companies are still focusing more and more on well-being, they still don't really get that the well-being journey is different for different people, and different people have different needs."
The Gympass report found that well-being is becoming the most important thing for employees when it comes to their satisfaction with their organization. Ninety-six percent of employees seek employers who prioritize their well-being, and 93% say well-being is equally
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Ignoring the needs of mismatched workers sends the message that employee well-being is not the priority, de Bastos Martini says. Employers will have to work even harder to prove they care for employees if they're not providing more flexible options for where and how they work.
"If you're not clear and specific about the culture you're trying to build, which requires people to be at the office, teams might feel a lack of trust and a lack of genuine care," she says. "The company is going to have to work extra hard to make it worthwhile to go into the office, either by making the office a very fun place or doing things that you can only do at the office. To me, it doesn't justify the hassle of forcing people and putting people through all of this additional emotional stress."
Flexible hybrid schedules support all
At Gympass, the company has a flexible hybrid schedule — it does not require people to come into the office, and also caps in-office days at three per week. Gympass also hosts quarterly activities for all employees to attend. What they've found is that schedules are more consistent and employees are generally happier and more productive working from their preferred arrangements.
"We're essentially empowering the individuals and the teams to make the accommodation that's best for them," she says. "What we're actually seeing is that people come in more frequently than not, and they're having fun at the office, too."
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For workers who are continuing to struggle with their well-being, Gympass found they're more likely to engage with their benefits than in previous years. In 2023, 77% said they used their employer's well-being benefits, compared to 68% in 2022. Employers should continue to explore if a return to work policy aligns with their commitment to support employees with their holistic health, de Bastos Martini says.
"Employers cannot postpone this change of culture," she says. "It's not just about benefits, but having an ecosystem around that. Companies that don't take this seriously are going to lose a lot of talent."
