In an era where "improving productivity" has become the loudest rallying cry, organisations are at risk of losing sight of an important measure of success: how people feel at work.
According to recent research from Accenture, just 29% of employees trust their company’s leadership to act in their best interests. Meanwhile, 58% of UK workers now place work/life balance above all else — a powerful signal that people are placing more weight on life-centric principles and priorities.
But many workplaces haven’t caught up.
Instead, we’re seeing an overemphasis on performance, increased digital noise, and rising expectations with fewer resources — all contributing to a subtle but profound erosion of the dignity of work.
The dignity of work goes beyond pay or status. It means feeling respected, having autonomy, being trusted, and knowing that your work has meaning.
It’s the feeling that:
So, what does this look like in practice? If you have a truly human-centred workplace, people feel safe to speak up, take initiative, and grow in their careers.
But when dignity is lost, we’re more likely to see the opposite: disengagement, burnout, and quiet quitting.
A growing number of UK employees — 36%, in fact — say they hear more from leaders about “improving productivity” than about customer value or workforce development.
This signals the beginning of a dangerous imbalance. When the drive for output starts to outweigh care for people, organisations risk short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability.
Here’s the paradox: Pushing harder doesn’t always lead to better results. In fact, it can do the opposite — especially when employees are constantly pulled between tools, meetings, messages, and tasks.
This is where context switching becomes a silent productivity killer.
Research shows that it takes an average of 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction, and frequent task-switching can reduce productivity by up to 40%.
The pressure to appear ‘always on’ — to respond quickly, juggle multiple platforms, and keep up with ever-changing priorities — is taking a cognitive toll on employees. Over time, this fragmented way of working can lead to:
So, while “do more with less” may sound efficient, in reality it leads to inefficiency through the draining of energy, motivation, and the very engagement businesses depend on.
To protect the dignity of work in 2025 and beyond, leaders need to think beyond quick fixes. Instead, we need a reimagining of how work is designed, communicated, and supported.
Micromanagement, surveillance tools, and reactive oversight may deliver short-term visibility, but they do long-term damage to morale and motivation. Instead, trust your teams with outcomes, not hours.
Clarity + autonomy = engagement.
Rather than squeezing more out of people, ask what’s getting in their way.
Reducing admin, automating low-value tasks, and consolidating systems can unlock time and focus for the work that matters.
Encourage time blocks free from meetings, support flexible working hours, and normalise saying no to non-essential tasks. Protecting focus protects value.
Listen more. Share the ‘why’ behind decisions. Check in without checking up.
Empathetic leadership isn’t about being soft, it’s about being strategic enough to know that thriving people build thriving businesses.
At SmartPA, we believe in work that works for people.
We support businesses of all sizes in creating human-centred operations — from freeing up hours of admin every week, to providing the flexible, skilled support that teams need to stay focused and fulfilled.
Because dignity at work shouldn’t be radical. It should be the baseline.
SmartPA leads the transformation of admin and business support services through technology and education, while our mission is to unleash potential by supporting young people and women to become business role models for future generations. Powered by a global team of passionate and accredited SmartPAs, we accelerate the success of over 5,000 businesses worldwide, delivering impactful outsourced support that allows organisations to focus on what they do best. With a Centre of Excellence in the UK, near shore hubs in South Africa and Uganda, and an offshore hub in Malaysia, we are dedicated to making a difference.
Click here to find out more about how partnering with SmartPA can help your organisation improve profitability and resilience by outsourcing non-core business support or administration services to SmartPA. Alternatively, contact us directly to discuss your requirements.