By Dr Liu Li and Dr Gu Manli

A striking 62 per cent of professionals in Malaysia were either looking for a new job or planning to do so last year. At the same time, 67 per cent of Malaysian employees report feeling burnt out. These figures reveal that while the job market offers opportunities, many workers are struggling with exhaustion and disengagement at work.

The missing piece is employee well-being, and addressing it requires more than perks such as gym memberships, free meals, or annual health checkups. It demands a systemic approach that captures the daily emotions, sense of purpose, and quality of relationships that define the lived experience of work.

Four key dimensions of well-being can be considered as follows:

• Affective well-being – The prevalence of positive work-related emotions such as enthusiasm, optimism, and pride in one’s work.
• Psychological well-being – A sense of meaning, competence, and personal growth at work.
• Social well-being – The quality of support, trust, belonging, and contribution within teams.
• Spiritual well-being – A sense of alignment between personal values and one’s professional purpose.

By understanding and measuring these dimensions, leaders gain actionable insights into what truly drives satisfaction, loyalty, and performance in Malaysia.

Why employee well-being is good business

Well-being is often seen as a “nice to have”. In reality, it is a business essential.

• Higher engagement – Employees with strong well-being are more committed and productive.
• Lower turnover – Poor well-being predicts stronger intentions to quit.
• Reduced burnout – Systematic attention to well-being protects against emotional exhaustion.
• Better life satisfaction – Work well-being spills over into health, family life, and overall happiness.

When employees feel energised, supported, and purposeful, organisations benefit from higher retention, better performance, and stronger reputations. In short, well-being pays dividends, financially, ethically, and socially.

Responsible leadership: from words to practice

Responsible leaders understand that profitability and people care are not opposites, they reinforce one another. Therefore, to build healthier, more resilient organisations, leaders must:

• Measure well-being regularly using reliable, validated tools.
• Act on results with targeted interventions instead of one-size-fits-all perks.
• Model balance by respecting boundaries and promoting healthy work habits.
• Integrate well-being metrics into organisational KPIs, treating them as seriously as revenue and growth.

Leadership that prioritises well-being move from symbolic gestures to real impact, creating cultures where people thrive and not merely survive.

Practical steps for managers

1. Recognise effort – Celebrate small wins to boost morale and emotional connection.
2. Support growth – Provide training and mentoring to build psychological well-being.
3. Build community – Strengthen social well-being through teamwork and collaboration.
4. Connect work to purpose – Help employees see the broader impact of what they do.
5. Prevent burnout – Watch for warning signs, manage workloads, and prioritise rest.

Practical steps for employees

• Foster connections – Workplace relationships provide vital support.
• Seek learning – Pursue projects that challenge and expand skills.
• Protect your energy – Set limits before burnout sets in.
• Reframe your purpose – Even routine tasks can feel meaningful when tied to organisational goals.

Towards a healthier future of work

Responsible leadership means embedding well-being into the DNA of the organisation, from strategy and policy to everyday interactions, not treating it as an afterthought. When employees feel energised, competent, connected, and purposeful, organisations become not only more humane but also more competitive.

Employee well-being is the foundation of responsible leadership, sustainable growth, and Malaysia’s future of work.

-- BERNAMA

Dr Liu Li and Dr Gu Manli are members of the Centre for Future Work under the University Research Centre (URC) at Taylor’s University. They are both academics at the School of Management and Marketing, within the Faculty of Business and Law at Taylor’s University.