Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in FlexJobs.com.
Achieving work-life balance is one of the main reasons why people seek flexible work. When dealing 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 greater employee well-being.
Additionally, more professionals are looking to companies with four-day work weeks in pursuit of improved workplace health.
Amid the growing debate over remote work and changing workplace dynamics, FlexJobs surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. professionals to gain insight into their work experiences.
The survey explores how today’s work environment affects employees’ career choices and perceptions of the future of work, including their health and wellness.
FlexJobs’ 2024 Workforce Health Report found that 28% of respondents face excessive work stress beyond normal work hours on a daily basis.
Another 30% feel stressed by being overworked at least weekly (12%) or several times a month (18%). As a result, a majority of employees (70%) believe that companies should reconsider the 40-hour work week.
Most employees want shorter work weeks and flexible working hours
While 11% of respondents favored retaining the standard five-day work week, 89% of employees favored compressed schedule and a four-day work week.
The professionals surveyed have the following preferences for flexible working:
- 32% prefer a four-day work week.
- 32% choose flexible schedules and the ability to choose their own working hours.
- 25% want performance-based arrangements, where work hours are organized around goals.
“FlexJobs’ findings highlight the prevalence of an unhealthy ‘busy culture’ and the pressure to overwork,” said Toni Frana, chief careers expert at FlexJobs.
Vrana added: “It is vital that employers focus on developing organizations that prioritize work-life balance over burnout in order to develop healthier, more productive and engaged teams in 2025.”
Overworked and toxic bosses rated as top workplace stressors
In addition to 58% of respondents who said they were stressed by working beyond normal working hours, 80% said they endured toxic work environments out of fear of losing their jobs.
The resulting greatest source of stress toxic workplace These include “too much work” (34%), “toxic boss” (31%) and “unrealistic expectations from managers” (31%).
Other major stressors faced by employees include:
- Job instability (29%)
- Boundaries between work and life (24%)
- Difficult coworkers (23%)
- Layoffs (23%)
- Changes within the organization (22%)
- Lack of time (21%)
Whether it’s the result of these challenges or the pressure to maintain job security, more than one-third of respondents said they feel “stuck” in their current job (37%). Another 37% felt “frustrated” and 34% felt “stressed” or “burned out” in their role.
Notably, these negative workplace feelings were rated higher than positive workplace feelings, with only 11% of respondents feeling “committed” in their current role, 8% feeling “enthusiastic” and 7% feeling ” excited”.
How workers feel about the workplace
Workers also reported the following feelings about current work conditions:
- Not satisfied (33%)
- Idle (26%)
- Bored (21%)
- Satisfied (17%)
- Apathy (16%)
- Ambivalent (11%)
- Content (9%)
Work stress negatively affects sleeping and eating habits
as a result of workplace stressNearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents said they had experienced difficulty sleeping or changes in sleep patterns.
Additionally, more than half (54%) turned to comfort eating or unhealthy snacks, and 48% reported being irritable or short-tempered.
Other unhealthy behaviors or coping mechanisms reported in response to workplace stress include:
- Procrastinating or avoiding tasks (47%)
- Physical symptoms such as headaches (46%)
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions (44%)
- Excessive caffeine intake (39%)
- Negative self-talk or rumination (38%)
- Isolating yourself from friends and family (32%)
- Increased screen time or reliance on social media (25%)
- Increased alcohol intake (20%)
Many people believe remote work is a good remedy for improving mental health
Changing priorities for work-life balance in the workforce are also reflected in respondents’ perceptions of paid vacation time and flexible working (i.e., remote and hybrid workplaces).
More than half (62%) of respondents to the FlexJobs Workforce Health Report said they plan to take or have already taken all paid time off in 2024.
In addition to paid time off, nearly all respondents believe remote and hybrid workplaces are the best work arrangements for their mental health:
- 56% said a remote environment was best for their mental health.
- 43% believe hybrid workplaces (i.e. a combination of remote and in-office work) are better for their mental health.
- Only 1% said being in the office full time and not working remotely at all was best for their mental health.
Additionally, the survey shows that respondents are not only interested in remote work environments; Jobs that work anywhere, anytime No geographic or location requirements are required.
Many are willing to sacrifice flexibility for pay
More than half (58%) of respondents said they would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for the option to work remotely from anywhere.
Of these respondents, 31% said they were willing to take a 5% pay cut, 19% said they were willing to take a pay cut of up to 10%, and 8% said they were willing to take a 20% pay cut in order to Work anywhere.
To ensure the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere, workers said they will also swap:
- Fewer career development opportunities (24%)
- Drop company-sponsored health insurance (14%)
- Increased working hours (14%)
- Retirement-focused company contributions (12%)
- Fewer vacation days (12%)
