Pluxee Reveals the New Rules of Employee Engagement

”Today, when it comes to engagement, it is no longer possible to consider employees separately from their personal lives. While work remains an essential anchor in the face of social, economic and environmental uncertainty, employees today seek a more balanced and flexible relationship between their professional and personal lives. This balance is what we call “Measured Engagement”. Neither total commitment nor disengagement, it reflects an employee’s ability to reconcile personal priorities and constraints, community involvement, and professional investment. To achieve this balance, employees expect greater reciprocity from their companies, not only through tangible benefits, but also through a work environment that fosters connections, autonomy, and growth opportunities. With this study, Pluxee set out to explore these new rules of engagement, as they are shaping the future of work.”  

Aurélien Sonet, Chief Executive Officer of Pluxee

Key figures from the study:

• 83% “love” or “like” their company, and workplace well-being is estimated at 7.8/10 on average
• 46% say they “work as much as I can”, while 34% meet expectations but set boundaries when needed
• 19% of employees worldwide place work at the center of their lives, while 35% consider it as important as the rest of their lives
• The top two drivers of employer attractiveness remain a good salary (53%) and benefits “that fit my needs” (36%)
• What makes employees feel fulfilled is above all a nice and caring work atmosphere (43%) and recognition (38%)
• 56% of employees say the top contributor to a good life is connection with others (family, friends, colleagues), followed by having time for themselves (42%)
• 42% of employees are involved in their community through sports, education, arts and culture, environmental protection, etc. and 20% would like to be

Find the full study on Pluxee's website

An Ambitious International Study

Designed to provide a broad and precise view of how employees around the world perceive their engagement, both at work and beyond, this study conducted by Ipsos for Pluxee in the first semester of 2025, reflects the opinions of 8,700 employees from diverse professional backgrounds across 10 countries where Pluxee operates. These insights are illustrated by 80 employee testimonials and enriched by contributions from two renowned experts on workplace engagement:

• Jean-Baptiste Barfety, rapporteur of the influential Notat-Senard report on purpose-driven companies and Director of Projet Sens, a collective of business leaders committed to meaningful work.
• Brigid Schulte, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist, author of the bestsellers Overwhelmed (2014) and Over Work (2025), and Director of the Better Life Lab at the independent think tank New America.

Employees are strongly attached to their company, but work is only one part of their daily lives.

The study shows that employees have a strong emotional connection to their company: 83% say they “love” or “like” it. However, this attachment does not necessarily mean devotion: while 71% of respondents consider work “important,” it is not the sole focus of their existence.

Contrary to common belief, workplace engagement remains strong. Nearly half of employees (46%) say they put in as much effort as possible at work. However, 34% take a more balanced approach, meeting expectations while setting boundaries when necessary. Jean-Baptiste Barféty calls this stance “Measured Engagement.”

Measured Engagement is gaining traction. It represents a new approach to engagement, more flexible and adapted to individual life paths. As Brigid Schulte puts it: “Rather than talking about ‘work-life balance,’ let’s think in terms of ‘work-life well-being.’ That’s the key to excellence at work and happiness at home.”

Life Stages Paint the Shades of Engagement

Engagement is neither all in or all out, it varies with life stages and personal priorities. The study identifies two key dimensions: the importance placed on personal life and the balance between individual aspirations and collective spirit. These combine to form eight distinct engagement profiles.This engagement spectrum shows that employees adjust their level of commitment according to life stages, investing in their work while setting boundaries, dedicate time to social causes when possible, and recharging with their close circle.Time hacking is the secret to the good lifeTime management has become a central challenge for staying engaged both at work and beyond. Considering that a person will spend hundreds of thousands of hours working over a lifetime, employees are seeking the freedom to use their time purposefully. When asked how they would like to spend a few extra hours of free time, they overwhelmingly favor loved ones and personal well-being, whether through exercise or quality moments. Time stands out as the ultimate currency for well-being.

Companies have much to gain by recognizing employees’ individual realities to nurture these new forms of engagement.

Like any relationship, their engagement is built on a sense of reciprocity that goes beyond compensation, though pay remains a top priority.

For companies and organizations, this shift represents a major opportunity. According to the study, employees are drawn to employers that meet three key expectations: growth and autonomy, human connections and a positive work atmosphere, and material benefits (salary, benefits, etc.).

Finally, engagement is cultivated over time. The testimonials collected show that employees’ life paths are both diverse and unique, even among those with similar engagement profiles. They now expect their company to acknowledge this diversity and support them throughout their journey. This means offering a personalized employee experience and flexible benefits.

Jean-Baptiste Barféty and Brigid Schulte both describe this new blueprint of a fully engaged company as a “crucible”: a space where potentials, personalities, and trajectories unfold.

About Pluxee

Pluxee is a global player in Employee Benefits and Engagement that operates in 28 countries. Pluxee helps companies attract, engage, and retain talent thanks to a broad range of solutions across Meal & Food, Well-being, Lifestyle, Reward & Recognition, and Public Benefits. Powered by leading technology and more than 5,600 engaged team members, Pluxee acts as a trusted partner within a highly interconnected B2B2C ecosystem made up of more than 500,000 clients, 37 million+ consumers and 1.7 million+ merchants. Conducting business for more than 45 years, Pluxee is committed to creating a positive impact on local communities, supporting wellbeing at work for employees and protecting the planet. 

For more information: www.pluxeegroup.com