by AUFA MARDHIAH

A REPORT published by Employment Hero stated that 50% of Malaysians agreed that the pandemic has caused them to de-prioritise their career.

The report added that 58% of Malaysian employees stated they suffer from burnout, while 51% said they have an average or even poor work-life balance.

Additionally, 51% of employees said that the pandemic has negatively impacted their career progression, while 67% of Malaysian workers are stressed about their finances.

The results were derived from 1,000 employees who participated in the Employment Hero study.  

Fortunately, Malaysian employers are now more aware of burnout and are starting to address it. Some 50% of employees agree that their company is very supportive of employees’ mental health in the workplace and 49% of employees are concerned that reporting mental health issues would lead to repercussions in the workplace, while 32% of employees are more likely to be loyal to the company.

Employment Hero CEO and co-founder Ben Thompson (picture) said little to no surprise that priorities have changed for many since the pandemic.

“The need for greater work-life balance was already clear before the pandemic, but with many employees feeling the aftermath of these tumultuous years in the forms of mental health issues and burnout, the workplace needs to adapt in order to create a working environment that is able to retain and attract top talent,” he said.

The report also stated that employees are seeking mental health support, balance and education, and employers must step up and offer the right resources to create a happy and productive workforce.

“By taking small steps in the right direction such as increasing mental health support budgets, prioritising financial education and implementing remote working practices that enable a greater work-life balance, employers can quickly pivot towards the kind of people-first approach that employees will truly be able to appreciate.

Ultimately, workers will stay with companies that support them, and leave the ones that don’t, so in order to retain top-tier talent and foster a successful workforce, it’s critical for employers to take these demands to take action where it’s most needed,” he added.

As a result of financial worries, other key findings from the report stated:

• 29% of employees are looking for an additional job.

• 25% of employees have lost their motivation.

• 25% are looking for a better-paying job.

• 22% of employees experiencing a decrease in productivity.