Don’t money buy happiness? Work-life balance is the absolute priority for well-being at work

An irreversible change of direction for younger people: wealth is slipping to the bottom of workers’ priority list. Here are the values that really matter to Italians.

In recent years, workers’ priorities have changed profoundly, shifting attention from pay to well-being and balance between private life and work. This change of direction is confirmed by The Guardian, according to which 74% of young people in Generation Z put work-life balance first. The same trend is also confirmed by the 8th Eudaimon-Censis Report, which surprisingly places wealth among the last values associated with well-being: it is a priority for only 9% of Italians, ranking 8th in the special list.

The world evolves and, in step with it, so does society and individual priorities: if for years professional success was measured through money and status, today something is changing. Work is no longer just a means of accumulating wealth, but a central element of personal balance, to be shaped around one’s own needs. Workers are looking not only for competitive salaries, but for a balance between professional and private life, holistic well-being and time to devote to themselves and their loved ones. This change reflects a new sentiment not only in Italy, but globally: well-being in the workplace matters more than simple pay.

According to The Guardian study, 74% of members of Generation Z put a healthy balance between private and working life first, while only 68% consider pay a priority. A clear sign that, despite today’s economic uncertainty, personal well-being is progressively overtaking the importance of salaries in career choices. Therefore, while wealth now ranks third from last among the values workers find most attractive, it is physical and mental well-being that tops the ranking (63.3%), followed by peace of mind (41.3%) and immediately after that by balance (36.2%). The search for fulfilling employment also passes through self-awareness and psychological well-being, as shown by 30% of respondents.

According to Alberto Perfumo, CEO of Eudaimon, "this is not a passing fad, but a clear symptom of a much deeper cultural transformation, in which well-being becomes a guiding criterion in career choices. For companies, it is no longer an option but a concrete commitment. Corporate welfare, if well designed, is the most effective answer to these new needs. Faced with this scenario, companies must adapt to workers’ new needs and rethink the very concept of welfare: no longer standardised packages, but personalised paths capable of meeting different requirements. Because today, more than ever, the true value of work is measured not only in a payslip, but by the quality of life it is able to ensure".

Here are today’s priorities of workers according to the 8th Eudaimon-Censis Report. First of all, for 63% of employees, health comes first: equally both physical and mental. Psychophysical well-being, in fact, represents a fundamental value for those who want to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 42% of the people involved in the survey associate workplace well-being with peace of mind, understood as a collaborative, stress-free environment that would encourage greater concentration and a calmer handling of daily challenges, at work and beyond. 34% of respondents then choose balance as the emblem of individual well-being. The latter, seen as the ability to harmoniously balance the aspects of private and working life, is considered crucial for avoiding emotional overload. Caring for one’s body also holds an important place. In fact, 30% of the people involved in the survey associate well-being with time devoted to self-care, that is, the ability to carve out time within the routine to take care of one’s body and mind.

Family is associated with well-being by 26.5% of the people involved in the survey, and is considered a fundamental source of emotional support and stability. Family ties are seen as essential to creating an environment of safety and affection, which contributes to individual well-being and general serenity. Job security, meanwhile, is chosen by 20% of employees, who consider it a key element. This reflects how essential it is for companies to guarantee a stable and protected workplace, one that contributes to psychophysical balance and individual peace of mind. For 11% of those interviewed, moreover, well-being is linked to self-awareness, or mindfulness. This practice not only fosters greater confidence in one’s daily choices, but also helps to better manage work challenges. Being self-aware makes it possible to create opportunities, build healthier relationships and experience each moment with a clearer view of life.

Finally, there is the surprising figure on wealth, chosen as a symbol of well-being by only 9% of those interviewed. This result shows that, although the importance of economic stability is recognised, wealth is no longer considered a central value for the quality of individual life, leaving room for other factors linked to the personal and relational sphere. For 8% of those interviewed, well-being is closely tied to the perception of the future. Having a clear and positive view of tomorrow provides security, motivates people to face daily challenges and allows them to orient themselves towards opportunities, creating a solid foundation for a satisfying and fulfilled life. Next, fun also falls quite far down the priority scale, preferred by only 4.5% of respondents. This highlights how, although appreciated, fun is not perceived as a fundamental value for well-being, compared with other more significant aspects of the daily lives of today’s workers.