Employees are wanting health and life insurance

Employers and employees appear to have different perspectives on flexible work arrangements, according to the 2024 Workplace Wellbeing Survey.

The survey, conducted for the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) and nib New Zealand, gathered responses from more than 1,200 New Zealand workers and revealed that while 83% of employees seek flexible work conditions and 76% prefer hybrid working arrangements, employers are not prioritising these as much.

This disconnect could affect job satisfaction and retention, as many workers view flexible working conditions as critical to their work-life balance.

Employers, meanwhile, are focusing on other aspects of workplace wellbeing, but with fewer resources allocated to employee assistance programs (EAPs) and parental leave, despite growing employee demand. The survey highlights that only 33% of employers plan to invest in EAPs, down from 43%, and just 12% are considering extended parental leave, even though a quarter of employees want this benefit.