“Talent’s search for workplaces that shape around them, rather than vice versa, continues to be a strong motivator,” the report notes. “Their expectations have become more multifaceted, with traditionally sought-after workplace aspects giving way to a broader distribution of priorities.”
The gap between wanting flexibility and compensation is most stark for Gen Z, according to the Randstad report. Around 74% rank work-life balance as a top consideration, compared with just 68% who put pay first. The young generation even ranked mental health (70%) above eye-catching salaries—part of their drive to ensure they’re happy clocking into their jobs every day.
However, older staffers are all-in on sustainable schedules, too. The Randstad report finds that the importance of work-life balance and pay increases with age: 85% of baby boomers rank work-life balance as a primary consideration in jobs, while 87% rank pay as a significant consideration. A large proportion of these employees still hold work-life balance in high regard, but they haven’t yet come to terms with the notion that cash is king.
Workers at the upper and bottom rungs of the corporate totem pole agree on one thing: work-life balance is extremely important when considering a job. But professionals who have assumed the throne as CEO are starkly divided on whether it’s possible to be ambitious and unplug at a decent hour.
In what might seem unconventional for Wall Street titans, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has also advised young workers to break away from work. It’s what’s best for their relationships and well-being.
