Today’s Professionals Value Wellbeing Over Salary

Employee preferences have evolved over and over again within a short span.  

According to JLL’s latest Workforce Preferences Barometer, some trends are standing the test of time, while others are moving up in the ranks.  

The findings revealed that hybrid work models are expected from 60% of office workers, with 55% currently operating under one.  

What this indicates is an argument future of work experts have been supporting for years prior to the pandemic: modern workplaces are agile. 

While factors like pay will always play a significant role in employee preferences, more professionals are prioritizing their own wellbeing and quality of life over salary. In fact, the top reason people resigned from their positions was to improve their quality of life. 

According to the findings, the top six workplace priorities as of April 2022 included: 

1. Good quality of life/work-life balance 
2. A culture of supporting wellbeing 
3. Comfortable salaries 
4. Sense of purpose 
5. Connections with coworkers 
6. Recognition for hard work 

In comparison, JLL’s pre-pandemic barometer showed that salary was the number one priority in the workplace, while wellbeing came in fifth.  

The concept that the workplace doesn’t have to be disdained and can actually inject satisfaction into a person’s life has taken over the general consciousness of professionals.  

The Great Resignation has proven just that — instead of people continuing to work dead-end jobs, the desire to create meaningful change in the world while also nurturing self has become a mainstay.