GLOBAL WORKPLACE FULFILMENT AND TRUST IN LEADERSHIP DECLINE SHARPLY — HP STUDY
Businesses around the world are facing an escalating crisis in employee well-being, as a new global survey shows workplace fulfilment has fallen to historic lows while trust in leadership continues to erode.
The findings, contained in HP’s third annual Work Relationship Index (WRI), reveal a widening disconnect between organisational demands and employee experience across multiple regions, including South Africa and Nigeria. According to the report, while companies remain focused on driving productivity, workers are increasingly overwhelmed, disengaged and unfulfilled.
Speaking on the data, Managing Director of HP Southern Africa, Yesh Surjoodeen, disclosed that only 20% of knowledge workers worldwide now report having a healthy relationship with work—an eight-point drop from 2024. Fulfilment levels declined across all workforce categories, with business leaders experiencing the steepest drop.
The study also highlights mounting workplace pressures. Sixty-two per cent of desk-based employees say their workload and expectations have increased over the past year, leaving many feeling overburdened, undervalued and under-resourced. Economic uncertainty, global disruptions and unequal access to modern work tools have made workplaces more demanding yet less rewarding.
A particularly troubling trend is the rapid decline in trust. According to the WRI, only 16% of knowledge workers trust senior leaders to make decisions that prioritise employee welfare—representing a 13-point fall from last year. Yet, the report notes that fulfilled employees are three times more likely to feel connected to colleagues and maintain a healthy work–life balance.
Heightened Strain in Sub-Saharan Africa
The report warns that workplace stress is more pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, where economic and social pressures further weaken employee well-being. It cites data showing that 85% of South African workers experience significant job-related stress, while a separate study indicates that 77% of Nigerian banking employees face moderate to high stress levels.
Engagement data suggests only one in four South African employees finds meaning or fulfilment in their work. With the country’s unemployment rate at 33.2% in Q2 2025, the sentiment that “having a job you hate is worse than being unemployed” is gaining traction.
Technology as a Fulfilment Enabler
While technology alone cannot resolve the crisis, the WRI identifies it as a powerful catalyst for improving workplace engagement. Workers with access to advanced tools report stronger fulfilment, with 42% of employees who enjoy a healthy work relationship using AI tools daily.
The study states that when deployed responsibly, AI and automation can ease routine burdens, allowing workers to focus on high-value, creative and impactful tasks.
Alignment with Global Development Goals
The report aligns its recommendations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which promotes inclusive, sustainable economic expansion and decent employment conditions while safeguarding well-being.
Looking Ahead: Purpose Will Define Productivity
The WRI projects that as organisations approach 2026, they will face mounting pressure to create workplaces that support connection, trust and purpose. With employee expectations rising and confidence in leadership falling, companies that fail to adapt may face weaker teams and diminished performance.
Surjoodeen noted that future productivity will be “defined not by output alone but by purpose,” adding that employee fulfilment is now the new benchmark for organisational success.
He emphasised that employees increasingly doubt whether leaders understand their needs, urging organisations to rethink their management approaches, communication strategies and investment in supportive technologies.
The report concludes that businesses that actively listen to employees, embrace transparency and deploy helpful tools—such as AI—to eliminate mundane tasks will build stronger, more resilient teams. Ultimately, when employees feel fulfilled, they bring greater energy, creativity and commitment to their work.