Almost half of employees doing ‘bare minimum’ at work: Report shows

A new report has highlighted a huge level of disengagement among Australian employees.

The 2023 Kelly Global Re:work Report found that employees aren’t feeling appreciated. “Talent feels unloved, overworked, and overlooked,” according to Kelly.

The research found that less than half of respondents are happy with their workload and work/life balance.

This unhappiness leads to disengagement, or in other words, quiet quitting. Forty-five per cent say they’re giving the bare minimum at work.

Kelly said this lack of effort creates huge issues for organisations and highlights a “failure to inspire and engage”.

Twenty-eight per cent of employees are very likely to leave their company within the next two years. Leadership shares a similar disgruntlement, with 72 per cent claiming the same.

The top reasons for this were poor work/life balance and lack of development opportunities. In fact, just 23 per cent said their employer provides regular training.

“Now more than ever, employers are struggling to keep up with the evolving needs of talent, and risk falling behind if they don’t bridge the growing divide related to workplace expectations,” said Tammy Browning, senior vice president of Kelly.

“As organisations enter a post-pandemic era, those that prioritise building a resilience workforce by focusing on the three pillars will be better equipped to adapt to the future of work and thrive in changing market conditions.”

The three pillars identified by Ms Browning are workforce agility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and workforce capability.

DEI can be a big way to engage, said Kelly, yet employers aren’t prioritising it. According to the report, leaders are a third less likely to hold open conversations about DEI than they were a year ago, down from 30 per cent last year to 21 per cent now.

Shockingly, 43 per cent of employees have experienced “non-inclusive behaviours” in their current workplace, and another 37 per cent do not feel psychologically safe.

Peter Hamilton, vice president and managing director for the Asia-Pacific region at KellyOCG, commented: “We are facing a crucial moment in the labour market, and the findings from our report indicate that many organisations are struggling to keep up with the changing needs of their workforce.

“It is concerning to see that executives and talent in Australia are not aligned on key issues such as work/life balance, skill development, and career progression opportunities, which could lead to increased turnover and missed business opportunities.

“Building a resilient workforce is not an option but a necessity now. Organisations that prioritise workforce agility, capability and DEI will be better equipped to navigate the dynamic labour market and support the wellbeing and satisfaction of their employees.”

To read Kelly’s full The 2023 Kelly Global Re:work Report, click here.