• Gen Zers want their employers to offer healthcare and wellness benefits for better work-life balance.
  • Millennials ranked ‘flexible work arrangements’ as the top work-life benefit from their employers.
  • Generation X workers worked fewer overtime hours last year to improve their work-life balance.

New results from Randstad Malaysia’s 2022 Employer Brand Research revealed that 29% of Generation Z respondents aged between 18 and 25 years old changed jobs to improve their work-life balance.

In comparison, 21% of Generation X workers (45 to 57 years old) reported working fewer overtime hours to improve their work-life balance.

malaysian employees took measures to improve their work-life balance

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that employees place more focus on workplace flexibility after the pandemic, especially the younger workforce generation. Employees these days want to gain better control over how they get to spend their time.

Employers who expect their employees to return to the office full-time may face some resistance from their workforce which may result in employee turnover, as people would often seek companies that offer a flexible workplace

behaviours of working generations to improve work-life balance
behaviours of working generations to improve work-life balance

Being at the early stages of their careers, Gen Zers are more likely to switch employers to those that can meet their expectations.

On the other hand, Millennials are likely to negotiate their roles and responsibilities to stay with the same employer, which indicates that they prioritise job stability. Some of these negotiations may include job rotation, career advancement opportunities or a more manageable workload.

millennials the only generation that ranked flexible work more important than healthcare benefits

Millennials prefer flexible working arrangements to improve their work-life balance. In contrast, Generation Z and Generation X workers wished for their employers to provide healthcare benefits in order to achieve the same results.

54% of Gen Zers want their employers to provide wellness and mental health benefits.

different generations expectations of employers on improving work-life balance in malaysia
different generations expectations of employers on improving work-life balance in malaysia

Reflecting the increasing pressure that the younger generations put on themselves to succeed in a competitive landscape, millennials and Gen Zers are looking for better lifestyles and healthcare support from their employers.

However, to better understand the details and specifications of what employees need, companies need to conduct regular surveys and discussions with their employees. It is also critical for employers to implement HR initiatives in response to the employee feedback that they receive to build a more engaged, healthier and productive workforce.

randstad malaysia supports flexible work for all employees

Our employees at Randstad Malaysia work at home up to three days a week and they also enjoy flexible working hours. All employees also receive additional benefits like three days of family care leave on top of their annual leave days to spend more time with their loved ones, especially for momentous occasions such as graduations and anniversaries.

When we ensure that our employees have enough personal time to create meaningful memories with the people they care about, they will be able to focus and perform better at work. The development and well-being of our employees are the cornerstones of our workforce management strategy at Randstad.

get a free copy of the 2022 employer brand generation report

The 2022 Randstad Employer Brand Research provides employers with a unique opportunity to uncover new insights and validate their assumptions about employees and job seekers. This independent research is the most representative employer brand study in the world, reaching out to more than 163,000 respondents across 31 markets, including 2,524 who are based in Malaysia in January 2022.

Fill in the form below to download the complimentary digital report.

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