Understanding Employee Well-being in the Modern Workplace
In today’s business landscape, Human Resources must be the guardian of organizational well-being. It’s no longer enough to attract talent; it’s crucial to nurture, listen to, and provide conditions for employees to thrive.
The Importance of Employee Well-being
Does your team wake up enthusiastic to contribute to your company or merely survive day-to-day, hoping for the weekend? This simple question can reveal what’s happening in many organizations’ work cultures. While leadership, growth, and transformation are discussed in offices, what truly matters is how people feel working with you. Are they growing or suffering? Developing or deteriorating? Do they view their work experience as an opportunity or a burden?
Gallup’s 2025 Report: A Snapshot of Employee Well-being
According to Gallup’s recent “State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report,” in Latin America, 54% of employees perceive themselves as experiencing growth, prosperity, and splendor.
- Positive Outlook: More than half of the workforce feels satisfied with their professional experience and connected to their personal development.
- Benchmark Comparison: This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 33%.
This “well-being index” is not a coincidence; it has been monitored in Latin America by Gallup since 2011, rising from 53% to peak at 56% between 2013 and 2014. However, since 2015, it has experienced a steady decline to 43%, hitting rock bottom amidst economic crises, political uncertainty, and post-pandemic challenges. Fortunately, since 2023, it has started to recover, reaching 54% again in 2024.
The Other Side of the Coin
However, the other side also warrants attention. According to the report, 44% of Latin American employees feel “challenged but struggling,” facing constant pressures and demands exceeding their capacity.
- Global Perspective: This group makes up 58% of employees worldwide, making it a significant concern even though the Latin American percentage is lower.
Almost half of the employees are, literally, “just surviving” in their jobs. Only 2% of the workers surveyed in Latin America reported feeling distressed, although this number seems low. These individuals are emotionally exhausted, demotivated, frustrated, or even damaged by their job conditions.
Although this figure is below the 9% global average, it serves as a warning for any organization aiming to maintain a healthy and sustainable work culture.
Taking Action: What to Do if Your Organization Exceeds These Averages
If your internal diagnosis—formal or informal—reveals that more than 2% of your employees are experiencing suffering, or if over 44% feel overwhelmed, it’s time to act. Here are five key actions that can help reverse these trends and guide your team towards a growth-oriented work experience:
- Active Listening and Frequent Climate Surveys: It’s not enough to conduct annual surveys. Establish constant spaces for employees to express their feelings, frustrations, and needs. Systematic and active listening enables timely and evidence-based action.
- Retrain Leaders with Emphasis on Emotional Intelligence and Conversation Skills: Leaders who exert pressure without providing support increase stress without fostering commitment. It’s essential to train team leaders in emotional intelligence, effective conversation, and providing support during difficult times.
- Immediate Review of Workloads and Expectations: When employees feel overwhelmed, it’s often due to disproportionate, unclear, or changing goals. Objectively evaluating workloads and adjusting expectations is a strategic decision, not a luxury.
- Strengthen Holistic Wellness Programs (Beyond Gym and Fruits): Well-being extends beyond office yoga. It’s about ensuring employees balance their work and personal lives, have access to mental health services, flexibility when needed, and respect for their boundaries.
- Recognize Achievements and Celebrate Progress, Not Just Results: Lack of recognition is a primary cause of demotivation. Learning to acknowledge progress, learning experiences, positive attitudes, and collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and contributes to the perceived prosperity.
Don’t ask if your company has employees in emotional distress. The critical question is: What is Human Resources doing to prevent, contain, mitigate, and reverse these suffering experiences?
Today, Human Resources must be the guardian of organizational well-being. Attracting talent is no longer enough; it’s crucial to nurture, listen to, and provide conditions for employees to flourish. Because if your people aren’t growing, neither is your company.
Key Questions and Answers
- What percentage of employees in Latin America feel they are growing? 54%
- What percentage of employees globally feel they are growing? 33%
- What percentage of employees in Latin America feel they are struggling? 44%
- What percentage of employees globally feel they are struggling? 58%
- What percentage of employees in Latin America feel distressed? 2%
- What percentage of employees globally feel distressed? 9%
