Stressed businessmanAlthough the majority of workers say they are satisfied with their job, a deeper analysis reveals that many may actually be more worried about their job security amid increasing economic uncertainty.
BambooHR surveyed 1,500 full-time salaried employees to understand how workers respond to an uncertain climate. The study revealed a fragile environment that has caused workers to become more cautious, calculated and inwardly focused as they seek stability over ambition.
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Eighty-four percent of employees reported job satisfaction, with work-life balance emerging as the top reason they remained at their jobs last year. However, one-third of those surveyed said they are more anxious about job security now than they have ever been before in their career, and nearly three-quarters are actively working to ensure their contributions are visible to their colleagues, including speaking up more in meetings, maintaining a detailed project log and documenting idea ownership.
Almost half of all employees (44%) find themselves making the extra effort to be available after hours, in an effort to project a commitment to their work. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with 54% of Gen Z and 52% of millennials feeling the pressure to stay connected beyond the traditional workday, said the report.
More than half of employees reported creating barriers that make it difficult to hand off their responsibilities to other employees to protect against job displacement, said BambooHR.
Financial security appears to be a key differentiator in job satisfaction. The survey found 95% of employees who have savings express job satisfaction compared with 73% who do not have savings. However, employees don’t seem eager to make a job change in the current environment. More than half of employees said they did not apply for any jobs in 2024.
Instead, employees seem focused on protecting their current jobs. More than half of employees reported being more cautious about workplace discussions in an environment of heightened political sensitivity, and have become more guarded on social media.
While almost half (46%) of employees feel more connected by following coworkers on social media, 24% of managers have had to address conflicts that originated online but spilled into the office. Employees also believe their employer is monitoring their personal social media and workplace chat tools. Their suspicions may be well-founded, as 26% of managers said they monitor LinkedIn activity for signs of job hunting, and 23% of HR professionals keep an eye on social media for workplace issue documentation.
“These findings reveal how deeply economic and cultural shifts are reshaping workplace behavior,” said Tara Martell, chief customer officer at BambooHR. “The modern employee isn’t just working, they’re managing perception, guarding their roles, and adapting to an environment where missteps feel more consequential.”
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
