Employee well-being is a pressing concern for leaders in modern workplaces, with some countries excelling in this area while others are causing distress to their workforce. In a recent global survey conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute, employee well-being was comprehensively evaluated, encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions. The results unveiled a stark contrast, with Japan ranking at the bottom, while Turkey claimed the top position, and India closely followed in the second spot.

Japan's score of just 25% painted a grim picture in the survey, while Turkey dominated the rankings with an impressive 78% score. India closely trailed behind with a strong 76%, and China secured 75%. These numbers significantly outperformed the global average, which stood at 57%. 

The survey gathered input from a diverse pool of 30,000 participants hailing from nearly 30 different countries, making it a comprehensive assessment of employee well-being on a global scale.

Within the study, Indian participants reported their physical well-being at an impressive 81%, mental health at 79%, and social and spiritual well-being at 78%. The report also highlighted that Indian respondents had the highest prevalence of burnout symptoms, with a significant rate of 59%. 

This was followed by Saudi Arabia at 36%, and both Egypt and Chile at 33% each. In contrast, Cameroonian respondents reported the lowest rate of burnout symptoms, which was just 9%.

On the other hand, Japan renowned for providing its workers with stable, long-term employment opportunities; often poses challenges for them when they seek to transition to different jobs in search of better prospects. Kopp, a board member at MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc, was cited in a Bloomberg report, where he pointed out a tendency among Japanese workers to undervalue their own experiences. 

Most of Japan's workforce is engaged in short-term contracts, leading to a challenging and unsatisfactory work experience for many employees. Nevertheless, he recognised that Japan grapples with substantial workplace dissatisfaction and elevated stress levels. "There are significant issues in Japan with lack of satisfaction in the workplace, with significant levels of stress,” he said. 

The report exposes a distressing reality where more than half of the workforce, accounting for over 50%, exhibits clear signs of burnout, significantly increasing the probability of them leaving their current jobs. In the context of the 30 countries encompassed in the study, 22% of workers reported encountering burnout symptoms within their workplaces. 

Researchers delving into the demographic aspects of burnout discovered that individuals aged 18 to 24, employees of smaller enterprises, and non-managerial professionals exhibit elevated rates of burnout symptoms.