Quality of life becomes top priority for Brazilian employees

A shift in professional priorities has emerged in Brazil, where quality of life has become the primary reason for employees to remain at their companies for the first time in 20 years. According to the 30th edition of the Great Place To Work (GPTW) ranking, 37% of workers cited quality of life as their main motivator, surpassing professional growth (33%), compensation (16%), and value alignment (9%).

Despite this shift in what workers value, reports indicate a significant crisis in workplace well-being. One survey involving nearly 12,000 people from 290 companies found that only 7% of Brazilian professionals feel happy and fulfilled at work. The data highlights widespread issues with anxiety, anguish, burnout, and emotional exhaustion.

Factors contributing to this dissatisfaction include a constant sense of urgency, difficulty disconnecting from digital work communications outside of office hours, lack of autonomy, and poor leadership. Experts suggest the pandemic and generational shifts have accelerated the demand for better work-life balance, even as workplace environments continue to struggle with high pressure and poor interpersonal relations.