Search

It’s not all about pay day! Brits motivated most by work-life balance 

News
Joanne Swann
person writing on a book

Almost a third (30%) of UK workers say that what motivates them the most while at work is proper support for a work-life balance.

HiBob, the HR platform transforming how organisations operate in the modern work of work, has released research exposing the mental state of workers in the UK, what motivates them in the modern workplace and the biggest factors that will contribute to resignations in 2024.

State of employee mental and financial wellness driving resignations

As we begin a new year, the research from HiBob uncovers a miserable state of employee mental wellness, as one-fifth (20%) of Brits feel burned out at work and more than a quarter (29%) are stressed. Shockingly, only one in seven (16%) would describe their mental state at work as supported.

As a result, the majority of UK workers (70%) are planning on finding a new job in 2024; with over a quarter (28%) planning on finding one in the next six months. Given workers’ current feelings, driving this new wave of resignations is a desire to level out work-life balance (17%).

New year, new priorities: ‘Work to rule’

Almost a third (30%) of UK workers say that what motivates them the most while at work is proper support for a work-life balance, followed by working towards a salary increase or promotion (29%).

Taking their work-life balance and workplace culture into their own hands, this year a fifth (22%) of British workers plan to set boundaries at work and say ‘no’ more often to requests that would make them work late, extend their working hours, or increase their workload beyond what was originally agreed.

Working remotely vs in the office 

Post-pandemic, one of the biggest conversations concerning the workplace has been around working from home vs in the office. Although many Brits are seeking out a better work-life balance this year, only one in ten (11%) are planning on working from home more frequently, as 88% plan on maintaining an office-based or hybrid working pattern.

The data also reveals that the core factors compelling people into the office are separating work from home (20%), collaboration and teamwork (19%), access to resources (14%) and free heating in the winter (13%).

However, two-fifths (40%) of UK workers are worried about the increase travel costs associated with a return to the office being mandated.

Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-Founder, HiBob comments 

As we head in to 2024, our research shows that employees across the UK are feeling stressed, burned out which is leading them to reassess what they want from their workplace and employer. While pay increases aren’t always possible during times of economic headwinds, these insights make it clear, at a time when there is a war raging for attracting and retaining top talent, supporting employees’ work-life balance is going to be a key differentiator for businesses in 2024.

Ronni Zehavi, CEO and Co-Founder, HiBob

Joanne Swann, Content Manager, WorkWellPro
Editor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional | Website |  + posts

Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.

Share

Latest News

Latest Analysis

Related Articles

Dan Kentley: Supporting Neurodivergent Employees In the Workplace

It’s estimated that one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent, meaning they may learn or process information differently to those who are neurotypical.

Autism Tribunal Claims Rise By 25% As Employers Face Growing Workplace Duties

Tribunal claims relating to autism rose by 25% in 2025, marking the sharpest increase in at least five years, according to new analysis.

Jenny Lucas: Why Neurodivergent Burnout Is a Workplace Wellbeing Issue – Not a Resilience Problem

Traditional burnout frameworks often focus on excessive workload or insufficient recovery time. In neurodivergent burnout, the picture can be more complex.

Hybrid Work and Menopause Raise Concerns Over Women’s Bone Health

Women can lose up to 2% of bone density per year during the menopausal transition due to a rapid drop in oestrogen levels.
Previous article
Caitlin Pyett: Global relocation – the ups and downs of working abroad
Next article
Random Acts of Kindness Day

Workplace Wellbeing Pro delivers UK-focused news and analysis on employee wellbeing, covering physical, financial, and mental health. Promoted via a twice-weekly newsletter and social media, it reaches 33,000+ wellbeing managers, HR professionals, occupational health advisers, and more.

© Copyright - BWTL 2025