By exploring what’s influencing UK employees in 2025, the ‘Workplace Values Survey’ by sharetech platform Vestd has discovered workers are reporting high levels of stress amid calls for more flexible working options.
Surveying full-time UK employees across five industries, the study found that 36% of staff are experiencing significant levels of stress.
More than half (51%) said they would consider changing roles if it meant gaining greater flexibility and a healthier work-life balance.
This comes as the findings highlighted that a better work-life balance was ranked as employees' top priority for 2026.
Giving employees greater flexibility and control over when and where they work is a proven driver of better work-life balance, with a recent study finding that 80% of employees say that working flexibly has had a positive impact on their quality of life.
However, Vestd’s study reveals that almost a quarter of the workforce has no access to flexible working options, despite it being the second most important factor when applying for a new job.
This is amid a drive to enforce workers back into the office, with large businesses such as Amazon and Vodafone, as well as the Civil Service, already introducing return-to-office policies.
Furthermore, one in six employees stated that a lack of flexible working options was the biggest factor currently impacting their work-life balance, suggesting that employers need to re-examine their policies to avoid losing talent.
The study examined additional factors affecting motivation and retention, with many noting that ownership-based benefits, such as employee share schemes, can also strengthen employees’ connection to their organisation’s performance. When paired with flexible working arrangements, they offer a complementary approach to boosting motivation and retention.
In the study, employee share schemes were ranked as the third most important workplace benefit, and 60% believed that shares would make them feel more motivated in the workplace, indicating that ownership can play a key role in engagement and retention.
Ifty Nasir, founder and CEO of Vestd, commented on the findings:
“The findings from our ‘Workplace Values Survey’ show the need to understand and tackle the problems facing staff, and employers must consider these to retain their top talent.
“It’s clear that there’s a strong need for flexible working in the workplace to help workers maintain a healthy work-life balance.
“By identifying what keeps employees motivated and where improvements can be made, it will allow organisations to take proactive steps to prevent employees from leaving their roles and create a more supportive working environment.
“And with nearly two-thirds of employees saying that having ownership in their company would increase motivation, it shows that options such as employee share schemes not only reward staff but also align their success with the company’s, making them far more likely to stay.
“Ultimately, it’s vital to speak to employees about how they’re feeling in the workplace and offer viable solutions in order to keep them motivated and invested in their work.”
