The majority (87%) of UK employees would consider accepting a lower-paying job if it offered better work-life balance and flexibility, according to research by charity sector job board CharityJob.
Its The expectations and values at work: A generational view 2026 report, which surveyed more than 2,800 charity professionals, also found that 84% of respondents would leave a high-paying job if it damaged their wellbeing.
More than three-quarters (78%) said they experience burnout at least sometimes, and 37% say they feel burned out often or always. Millennials were the most likely to report feeling burned out often or always.
More than three-quarters (78%) said remote or hybrid flexibility is critical in their ideal workplace, with 60% expecting access to flexible working within their first month of a new role.
Almost three-quarters (72%) said a respectful and inclusive workplace is one of the most important factors when applying for a job, while the same percentage said remote or hybrid-working options are one of the top factors that would make them stay with an employer. A third (33%) ranked job security as the most important factor when choosing a role.
While Generation Z respondents placed strong emphasis on purpose and social impact, they were most likely to consider compromising on personal values for higher pay.
Raya Wexler, founder of CharityJob, said: “Since the pandemic, and particularly during the cost-of-living crisis, professionals are reassessing what they want from work. Salary still matters, but it’s no longer the deciding factor. Across the charity sector, and increasingly across the wider workforce, we’re seeing flexibility, wellbeing and workplace culture become central to career decisions.
“The idea that salary alone attracts and retains talent no longer holds true. What we’re seeing is a workforce that’s reassessing priorities. Flexibility, wellbeing and respectful cultures are no longer optional extras, they’re baseline expectations. For employers, in the charity sector and beyond, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Organisations that embed flexibility and genuinely support wellbeing will have a competitive edge in a tight labour market.”
