Workplace happiness in eCommerce - is well-being prioritised?

In today’s fast-paced eCommerce landscape, maintaining a happy workplace is more crucial than ever. Employee happiness isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for productivity, creativity, and long-term success.

With mental health challenges on the rise, businesses need to cultivate an environment that prioritises well-being and guards against the negative impacts of heavy workloads. In our latest post, we’ll explore how people feel in the industry, backed by exclusive insights and stats from our 2024 eCommerce Salary Survey Report. Let’s dive into the key factors driving happiness and retention in the industry!

Do eCommerce professionals get enough flexibility?

Remote working or office-based, people work better in different environments. For eCommerce professionals, there is a clear favourite. 77% of professionals feel that they work best in a hybrid capacity. It provides the flexibility of remote work when necessary while retaining a sense of team camaraderie and productivity.

This preference highlights the importance of flexibility in the modern workplace. From a well-being perspective, the ability to choose where they work can reduce stress, improve work-life balance, and enhance overall job satisfaction. This flexibility allows employees to create a work environment that best suits their productivity and mental health.

In terms of staff retention, offering a hybrid model can be a significant competitive advantage. Companies that embrace hybrid work are likely to attract and retain top talent, as this model aligns with the preferences of a large majority of professionals in the industry.

Are employees struggling with workloads?

This year, we introduced a new question about employee workload. On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 represents a light workload and 10 represents a heavy one, the average score was 7.4.

This is a clear indicator that many eCommerce professionals are experiencing significant demands in their roles. This elevated score suggests that a substantial portion of employees may be feeling overburdened, which can have serious implications for their well-being.

High workload levels are often linked to increased stress, burnout, and reduced job satisfaction. When employees consistently feel overwhelmed, it can lead to mental health challenges, lower productivity, and a decline in overall morale. Notably, 55% of respondents report that their workload leads to increased stress and anxiety. Meanwhile, 36% struggle with maintaining a healthy work-life balance and 30% are growing more frustrated.

Who do people feel they can voice well-being concerns to?

When professionals are feeling the pressure outlined above, who do they turn to? Here’s what our respondents told us…

The statistics reveal significant insights into the state of communication and trust within eCommerce workplaces regarding well-being concerns. With 43% of respondents feeling comfortable voicing their concerns to their direct managers, it’s clear that the immediate leadership plays a crucial role in employee well-being.

However, the fact that only 13% of employees feel they can approach HR indicates a potential gap in the perceived role of HR departments. Ideally, HR should be seen as a key resource for well-being support, but these numbers suggest that this function may be underutilised or not fully trusted by employees.

Even more concerning is that 16% of respondents don't feel comfortable sharing their well-being concerns with anyone in the workplace. This statistic highlights a significant issue: a portion of the workforce may feel isolated, unsupported, or even fearful of speaking up.

Find more insights from eCommerce professionals!

There is so much more to discover – simply download a free copy of the 2024 eCommerce Salary Survey Report below. Looking for recruitment support? Check out the latest eCommerce jobs or submit your CV! If you’re hiring, submit a vacancy and the team will be in touch!