A recent study conducted by leading insurance provider AXA Philippines showed that Filipinos who are struggling at work are almost twice as likely to resign within a year compared to the rest of the world. This accounts for 32% of Filipinos surveyed, versus the global average of 17%, suggesting that the “Great Resignation” is still a continuing trend as professionals continue to re-evaluate their career choices.
The AXA Mind Health study also revealed that job stress (39%), better job and higher pay (39%), the need for work-life balance (32%), and a toxic work culture (31%) are among the top reasons cited by Filipino workers for intending to leave their current jobs.
Going through the ‘Great Resignation’
The study, which highlighted the importance of addressing mind health concerns in the workplace to improve employees’ retention and overall job satisfaction, revealed that the Philippines has the highest resignation rate globally at 18%. Numbers also showed that the intent to resign may not translate to actual resignations with only 14% of Filipino workers actually resigning in the next 12 months. This percentage is lower than the global average across all age groups. Despite the bullish numbers, it is still too early to tell if the “Great Resignation” is over in the Philippines.
The research found that most resignations come from the 18-24 age range, with the younger workforce most likely planning their exit from their jobs eventually. In the Philippines, the intention to resign among young Filipinos is higher, with a 28% resignation rate versus 24% globally. Majority (64%) of Filipino workers who resigned from a job in the last year found it was positive for their mental wellbeing. This number implies that employees usually feel happier when they leave a stressful or toxic environment and move on to something that suits them better.
Youth and workplace productivity
The survey revealed that young workers in the Philippines, particularly those aged 18-24, are least likely to be productive compared to their 24 to 35-year-old colleagues. This is linked to their unmanaged work demands and the difficulty in keeping up with the pace of change at work. In addition, younger workers may not have the same level of people skills as older age groups, which could be beneficial in dealing with stress. It's also worth noting that they might not have yet developed the necessary aptitude for adversity this early in their careers.
Promoting good mind health in the workplace
Employers have an important role to play in promoting the health and happiness of their employees. The research reveals that a supportive workplace has a great impact on employee retention, well-being and productivity. To help employers better understand the workforce’s current state, the study presented six key factors that promote well-being in the workplace: hybrid work, mental health support by employers, strong skill/job matching, control over workload, support for skill development, and clear goals and expectations.
To further establish the connection between mind health and productivity in the workplace, respondents were classified into four mind-health states based on their responses: “flourishing” at the top to “getting by,” “languishing” and “struggling.” Flourishing refers to the pinnacle of good mind health, getting by describes those who may have some areas of good wellbeing but not enough to reach the state of flourishing, languishing represents the absence of positive wellbeing and struggling is associated with emotional stress and psychosocial impairment.
Those who are flourishing are more productive at work and are less likely to leave their jobs. The study further explained that Filipinos are two times more productive if their skills matched the work they were being asked to do. They are also five times more likely to flourish and four times more productive if they had at least some decision-making power over how they did their jobs.
"Over the past years, we have seen Filipinos, most especially the younger generation, leaving their jobs abruptly to prioritize their well-being. It is important that we explore the reason behind this great resignation and why Filipinos are struggling at work,” said AXA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Nandy Villar. “The findings from our latest Mind Health Study reinforce the value of prioritizing mind health in the workplace like we do at AXA, and the need for employers to take a proactive role in addressing these concerns among their employees."
New understanding brings new hope. By taking into consideration the factors that affect good mental health in the workplace, AXA Philippines believes that this will benefit both employers and employees. Through the findings of the recent Mind Health study, it aims to encourage employers to be more attuned to their employees’ well-being.
Access the AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing 2023 at https://www.axa.com/en/about-us/mind-health-report.
