A recent report by Employment Hero has highlighted a growing concern in Malaysia’s workforce, with 67% of employees now grappling with burnout.
The 2024 Wellness at Work Report, which surveyed 1,015 Malaysian employees, revealed a sharp increase in burnout levels from 58% in 2022 to 67% in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for improved mental health support and workplace wellness programs.
The report identifies Millennials as the most affected group, with 69% experiencing burnout, followed closely by Gen-Z employees at 64%.
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The primary factor contributing to this widespread burnout is the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance, with 55% of respondents rating their work-life balance as poor or average.
The report found that 58% of fully remote employees rated their work-life balance as above average, compared to 44% of hybrid workers and 42% of in-office employees.
Ben Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Employment Hero, commented on the findings:
“The findings of our 2024 Wellness at Work Report clearly show that it’s time for employers to consider embracing remote working and flexible arrangements more fully.”
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The report suggests that flexible working arrangements, including remote work, could be a key solution to the rising burnout issue.
A significant 88% of knowledge workers expressed a desire to work remotely at least one day per week.
The report also notes that remote and hybrid working arrangements generally offer better work-life balance and financial benefits for most Malaysians.
Financial stress is another major factor driving burnout, with only 53% of employees feeling on track with their financial goals, and 49% believing that their workplaces are not doing enough to support them amid rising living costs.
Despite these challenges, the report found that 52% of employees rated their employer’s commitment to improving overall health and well-being as above average, and 77% of Malaysians expressed satisfaction with their working relationship with their managers.
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