Za employees flexible working hours and possibility in Serbia rada for the second year in a row, working from home is the most valuable and sought-after benefit, according to a survey conducted by Osiguranik, TIM Centar, Resilient and Infostud "What makes employees happy", it was published on Monday.
In the fourth annual survey, which brings the most comprehensive overview of the needs, expectations and perceptions of employees in Serbia, 759 decision-makers and 3.111 employees participated.
Both samples were matched to the data Republic Institute for Statistics, which makes it fully relevant and representative for the domestic labor market, announced the portal Infostud.rs.
As stated, the research showed that employees in Serbia less and less value classic benefits such as sports activities, subsidized loans or paid training, and increasingly seek autonomy in the organization of work - the freedom to manage their own time and way of working.
"The new currency of job satisfaction"
As research has shown, flexibility is the "new currency of job satisfaction" that brings a sense of trust and balance, but also affects employee loyalty.
Compared to last year, there has been an increase in expectations regarding personal balance - employees no longer just want a "better job", but a better life with work.
It was also stated that working from home, once understood as a transient need, has now become a permanent part of the working reality.
According to research, 28 percent of employees in Serbia have the opportunity to work remotely, at least occasionally, which is a small but stable increase compared to the previous year.
However, the trend of returning to the office is evident, as almost 20 percent of respondents indicated that their companies tightened policies in 2025 work from home, introducing mandatory days of attendance.
Help with childcare is rare
When it comes to parents, the research showed that symbolic benefits such as New Year's packages still prevail, while real support measures such as extra days off, flexible schedules or help with childcare so rarity.
The survey showed a gap in the perception of trust, because while 78 percent of employees believe that their superiors trust them, as many as 63 percent of managers admitted that they do not have complete trust in employees who work remotely.
More than two-thirds of respondents, both employees and managers, agree that working from home is not a benefit, but a different form of work, which requires new skills, clear communication and agreed goals.
Companies that manage to balance flexibility and connected teams will have an advantage in attracting and retaining people for years to come.
The well-being of workers is a key prerequisite for productivity
The well-being of workers, as can be seen from the research, is no longer a trend that is discussed, but a key prerequisite for the stability and productivity of employees.
Thus, 95 percent of employees in Serbia mentioned at least one problem that affects their well-being - most often stress (69 percent), lack of energy (54 percent), lack of motivation (46 percent) and financial difficulties (39 percent).
As it was pointed out, two-thirds of employees believe that these problems directly reduce their performance at work, and today they expect systemic, not symbolic, support from companies.
Most of all, they want help in life crisis situations, psychological counseling, but also legal and financial education.
However, although some companies offer such programs, many employees do not use them due to stigma, mistrust or unclear communication.
Companies just "talk about caring"
This year, for the first time, the research recognized the emergence of the so-called carewashing - situations when companies publicly promote employee care, but do not implement it in practice.
As many as 69 percent of employees say that their companies "talk about care", while only 11 percent claim that this care really exists and is felt in their daily work.
The most common forms of carewashing are campaigns about mental health, but with overtime, flexibility only "on paper", promotional initiatives on equality without real changes.
The result of such practice is a decline in trust in management, as well as a feeling that companies are using the topics of employee care as part of business marketing, rather than real culture, the research showed.
Source: Beta
This October, "Vreme" celebrates and honors - as much as 35 percent discount for our 35th birthday! Valid for semi-annual and annual subscriptions. Subscribe now!
