Upset unhappy woman employee feeling bored at workplace, doing boring task, looking at laptop screen with sad facial expression, unmotivated apathetic female freelancer. Freelance procrastination

Feeling cared for is a key driver of workplace satisfaction, and in many cases it’s lacking. According to a survey from MetLife, feeling “cared for” at work drives employee holistic health and happiness, but almost half (42%) of employees don’t feel cared for by their employers.

There are disparities in employees’ perceptions of care. Men (72%) and white collar workers (70%) are more likely to feel cared for than women (60%) and blue collar workers (58%). Gen Z employees are the least likely age group to feel cared for (53%).

These perceptions of care can have far-reaching effects for an organization. Employees who don’t feel cared for are 65% less likely than those who do to feel a sense of belonging at work. They are also 72% less likely to feel valued by their employers. This leads to significantly lower levels of engagement, productivity, and loyalty.

How do you show you care about employees? The findings reveal that employee cohorts have unique needs:

  • Women want safety and comfort in the work environment, as well as more support from managers.
  • Blue-collar workers want more affordable benefits. 
  • Gen Z wants employers to take action on environmental, social, and political issues.