Taking the Pulse of Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers across Australia and New Zealand are under pressure. According to the latest UKG report Perspectives from the Frontline Workforce: ANZ edition 2025, 76% of Australian and 78% of New Zealand healthcare workers report feeling burned out.

But burnout doesn’t stem from long hours alone. It’s also driven by a lack of autonomy, being under-appreciated, and feeling stuck. Fortunately, healthcare workers are telling us exactly what they need, and the message is clear: flexibility, recognition, and opportunities for learning and development.

1. Flexibility: The Top Priority

Healthcare workers ranked flexible scheduling as their most desired benefit, with 47% of respondents putting it at the top of their list. In addition, 54% said they would prefer more vacation time over a pay increase, a clear signal that time is valued even more than money.

The data also shows that digital tools are a key to increasing flexibility:

• 93% say benefits self-service tools improved their experience

• 85% saw improvements from scheduling tools

• 83% reported benefits from time and attendance systems

Together, flexibility and self-service empower staff to take control of their schedules and reduce the everyday friction that leads to burnout.

2. Recognition: A Cultural Imperative

Recognition drives performance and loyalty. But it’s not just about saying thank you, it’s about embedding appreciation into the everyday culture of your organisation. And yet, almost 1 in 4 healthcare workers in Australia and New Zealand say their manager never recognises their work. That’s a missed opportunity to motivate and retain your people.

Here’s how to start building a culture of recognition:

• Call out wins: Use team meetings or internal channels to celebrate great work

• Make it personal: Tailor recognition to each individual or team

• Connect it to purpose: Highlight how contributions drive the mission

3. Learning & Development: A Reason to Stay

1 in 3 healthcare workers identified learning and development as a high priority. Where turnover is high, opportunities for growth provide a clearer future and a reason to stay.

To meet this need, organisations can focus on:

• Upskilling workers: Support transitions into leadership or new specialties

• Making development accessible: Build short, accessible trainings into the workday

• Signal long-term investment: Show staff they are valued beyond their current role

What healthcare workers across ANZ want is simple: more flexibility, more recognition, and more room to grow.

Download the Perspectives from the Frontline Workforce: ANZ edition 2025 report to uncover more insights and practical steps to better support your healthcare workers.