Archive · 26 Dec 2025
Two-Thirds of Employees Would Take Pay Cut for Better Workplace
A recent report shows that many employees in India are thinking about leaving their jobs.
Two-thirds of these employees would even take a pay cut if it meant having a better workplace with more flexibility.
The report found that 62% of employees in typical workplaces are actively looking for new roles, and 70% of those planning to leave expect to do so within the next year.
Younger professionals and those in healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals are especially likely to switch jobs.
The main reasons for wanting to leave include unfair pay, poor work-life balance, lack of recognition, and bad communication from management.
However, employees who trust their leaders and see opportunities for innovation are less likely to leave.
This shows that having a good workplace culture and strong leadership can help keep employees happy and reduce turnover.
66% of employees considering leaving would accept a pay cut for better workplace conditions and flexibility.
62% of employees in typical workplaces are actively looking for new roles, with 70% expecting to leave within a year.
Workplace culture and leadership trust significantly influence employee retention and satisfaction.
Highest intent to switch is in healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals (81%), followed by Generation Z (76%) and millennials (68%).
Key factors driving dissatisfaction include fair pay, work-life balance, recognition, and management communication.
- Who
- Employees in various sectors, particularly healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals, as well as younger professionals and supervisors.
- What
- A significant number of employees are considering leaving their current jobs and would accept a pay cut for better workplace conditions and flexibility.
- When
- The report indicates that 70% of employees considering a change expect to leave within the next year.
- Where
- The findings are based on a report from Great Place To Work India, reflecting workplace conditions in India.
- Why
- Employees are driven by dissatisfaction with fair pay, work-life balance, recognition, and management communication, and are influenced by workplace culture and leadership trust.
- Percentage of employees considering leaving
- 62%
- Percentage willing to take pay cut
- 66%
- Percentage expecting to leave within a year
- 70%
- Highest intent to switch sector
- Healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals (81%)
- Generation Z intent to switch
- 76%
- Millennials intent to switch
- 68%
- Supervisors and frontline managers intent to switch
- 73%
- Key factor for evaluating employers
- Workplace culture (87%)
- Dissatisfaction areas
- Fair pay, work-life balance, recognition, management communication
- Reduction in intention to leave with strong leadership
- 16%
- Reduction in intention to leave with innovation opportunities
- 12%