43% of U.S. Workers Say They are Burnt Out at Their Job
According to the latest Workforce Monitor® survey commissioned by the American Staffing Association and conducted online by The Harris Poll, 68% of Americans prefer a hybrid or in-person work schedule.
As companies around the country debate returning to the office, 39% of Americans said that hybrid—a mix of in-person and remote work—was their ideal work schedule. Nearly 32% preferred a fully remote schedule, while 29% of Americans said their ideal work schedule was a full return to the office.
The survey also found significant differences across generations. While 37% of Baby Boomers (ages 60-78) prefer a fully remote work situation, only a quarter (26%) of Gen Z (ages 18-27) want to fully work from home. Millennials (ages 28-43) and Gen X (ages 44-59) fall in between at 31% and 33%, respectively.
Close to half (46%) of those with children under 18 in their household said they preferred a hybrid schedule, compared to 35% of U.S. adults without.
However, more than half of employees who aren’t fully remote (57%) say they would not be willing to forego a bonus or raise this year or take a pay cut in exchange for being able to work remotely full time.
“The question of whether employees should work fully in person, fully remote, or on a hybrid schedule has been a top issue facing organizations across America since the pandemic triggered a workplace revolution four years ago,” says Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at the American Staffing Association. “While some predicted the end of in-person work, the survey found that half of U.S. employees currently work 100% in person. Employees’ attitudes are changing, with 68% of U.S. workers now stating that they prefer a hybrid or in-person schedule.”
The same study also found that 43% of U.S. workers say they are burnt out at their job right now, with nearly half (47%) hesitant to discuss burnout with their boss.
“With more than four in 10 Americans reporting suffering from burnout, employers need to continue to focus on raising employee engagement levels, which includes providing programs to address mental well-being and stress.
“As organizations navigate the future of the workplace, the most successful ones will embrace workplace flexibility and focus on creating strong employee-centric cultures.”
Method
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of ASA from January 5–9, 2024 among 2,094 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 1, 294 were employed. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Megan Sweeney at 703-253-1151.
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About the American Staffing Association (ASA)
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.
About the ASA Workforce Monitor
The ASA Workforce Monitor® is a periodic survey commissioned by ASA and conducted online by The Harris Poll among 2,000 or more U.S. adults age 18 and older. The survey series focuses on current workforce trends and issues. For more information about the survey series, visit americanstaffing.net/workforcemonitor.
About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963. It is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. They work with clients in three primary areas: building 21st century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Their mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Learn more by visiting theharrispoll.com and follow The Harris Poll on Twitter and LinkedIn.
