The majority of employees worldwide, or 82%, expect support from their employers in achieving a work-life balance, according to a survey by global flexible workspace provider Mindspace.

The survey also found that 9 in 10 employees consider wellbeing facilities and offerings to be critical when choosing a workplace, and 82% expect support from their employers in achieving a work-life balance.

Mindspace’s survey also explored the most impactful ways in which employees feel their employers should support their overall wellbeing. Less than half, or 43% of participants said the benefit with the greatest impact on employee wellbeing was flexible working hours. Other benefits mentioned include flexibility regarding work location (21%), free healthy meals (24%), more vacation days (33%), improved health insurance (16%) and physical amenities such as on-site gyms.

When asked about the negative effects of workplaces where wellbeing was not prioritised, 25% said such environments adversely affected their desire to stay at the company, half of respondents (50%) said they believed workers' motivation would be most affected, followed by productivity (48%) and creativity (28%).

"With companies large and small gradually demanding their employees return to the office, now is the time for employers to rethink a future of work that incorporates flexible working options with regard to work hours and location, and that places more emphasis on benefits enhancing employee wellbeing," said Dan Zakai, Mindspace CEO and Co-Founder.

"This latest survey suggests that employees are taking a more holistic approach to their workplace, with growing expectations for hybrid work models, amenities that support work-life balance, or enhanced healthcare coverage,” Zakai added. “Companies that believe in returning to the office and want to retain their top talent should be forward-thinking and must recognise that built-in wellness amenities are not a luxury but a strategic necessity to promote wellbeing, to boost retention and to drive organizational success."

Mindspace conducted the survey based on interviews of 2,000 office workers across the US, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Israel. The survey aimed to highlight the global workforce's current sentiment towards employers' wellness offerings, the importance of a wellness-focused employer as a variable when choosing a new job or deciding to stay at a current place of work, as well as tangible ways that employers could support employee wellbeing.