U.S. workers gain confidence in setting work-life boundaries: Resume Now survey

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Sixty-five percent of American workers feel confident enough to decline additional tasks at work, highlighting a shift towards better workplace boundaries and personal well-being.

The survey titled “The Price of Extra Work” and conducted by Resume Now on December 3, 2024, involved 1,160 participants. It reveals that younger workers, particularly those aged 25 and under, feel the most empowered, with 77% comfortable in saying no, compared to 66% of those 41 and older and 56% of those aged 26 to 40.

Gender dynamics in workplace boundaries 

While 69% of men reported feeling comfortable with setting boundaries at work, only 62% of women felt the same. 

Women, however, were more cautious, often assessing situations more thoroughly before declining extra work. This cautious approach does not seem to mitigate feelings of burnout, as 59% of all surveyed workers frequently experienced burnout from the difficulty in saying no.

Burnout: A persistent issue 

Despite the increasing empowerment, burnout and interference with personal time due to work remain issues. Over half of the respondents (52%) mentioned that accepting extra work occasionally disrupted their personal or family time, with a worrying 12% stating that this interference was a constant presence. 

The survey highlights the urgent need for workplaces to foster environments where employees can set healthy boundaries without fear of negative repercussions.

Implications for employers 

These findings suggest that while a portion of the workforce feels empowered to decline extra work, there is still much to be done to support mid-career professionals and women. 

Employers are encouraged to create supportive cultures that acknowledge the challenges of setting boundaries and implement strategies that alleviate burnout and promote a healthy work-life balance. This includes providing clear policies, adequate support systems, and ensuring that workload management is fair and reasonable across all employee demographics.