Half of Canadian workers feel less fulfilled than five years ago

Only 21% of workers feel completely fulfilled, with Canadians reporting lower levels than Americans

Half of Canadian workers feel less fulfilled than five years ago

Workplace fulfillment is a key factor in retaining talent, as highlighted by the ‘2024 North American Workplace Fulfillment Gap Index’ released by Ricoh USA, Inc. 

The report revealed that employers often fall short of meeting employees’ expectations for workplace fulfillment, particularly amid companies' return-to-office (RTO) policies. 

Respondents rated their overall workplace fulfillment at 6.89 out of 10. On-site workers scored slightly higher at 6.92, compared to 6.61 for remote workers. 

Despite these scores, 51 percent of employees reported feeling less fulfilled than five years ago. The survey revealed that 84 percent of workers see fulfillment as a deciding factor in whether to remain with their current employer

Hybrid workers reported greater fulfillment than their on-site or remote counterparts.  

Donna Venable, chief human resources and shared services officer for Ricoh North America, stated, “Companies can work to bridge this gap by creating an ongoing feedback loop with employees, developing engaging mentorship programs and removing hierarchy barriers through servant leadership.” 

The survey also found that workplace fulfillment significantly affects personal happiness. Most of the employees (82 percent) said work fulfillment impacts their happiness at home. However, only 21 percent of respondents felt completely fulfilled at work. 

Fulfillment gaps vary by country and generation. Canadian workers reported lower fulfillment levels, with just 14 percent feeling completely fulfilled compared to 29 percent of US workers. 

Generational differences are also pronounced. 63 percent of Gen Z workers associated their personal identity with their profession, compared to 52 percent of Boomers.  

Although 85 percent of Gen Z employees said workplace fulfillment improves their happiness at home, only 79 percent felt their work contributed positively to the world. 

Carsten Bruhn, president and CEO of Ricoh North America, emphasized the importance of leadership in fostering workplace engagement.  

He said, “In this new business environment, leaders need to be even more visible, transparent, and authentic to foster engagement across generations.” 

The report highlighted employees’ optimism about artificial intelligence (AI) as a productivity tool. Two-thirds of respondents believed AI would enhance their efficiency, with hybrid workers (73 percent) showing the highest optimism.  

60 percent of employees also believed AI could create more time for their personal passions. 

Camaraderie among colleagues emerged as the leading factor for workplace engagement. The survey found a strong link between disconnection from coworkers (47 percent) and decreased fulfillment (51 percent). 

Majority of employees (91 percent) said workplace culture significantly influenced their sense of fulfillment. Hybrid workers felt this impact more than their on-site counterparts. 

Ricoh’s survey highlights the need for companies to adapt their workplace strategies to meet employee expectations.  

Amy Loomis, research vice president at IDC, stated, “Companies must go beyond simply offering traditional benefits to offer workers of all ages and backgrounds a meaningful path forward for career development.”