Workers Like Their Employers, and AI, More Than You Might Think
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Workplace surveys usually arrive with gloomy headlines. This one comes with three paradoxes instead. Benefits company Pluxee has published the second edition of its international study on workplace engagement, carried out by Ipsos in May 2026 among 11,000 employees in 14 countries, from Belgium and Brazil to the United Kingdom and the United States. India's responses were left out of the global totals because of their distinct profile.
Attached, but Not Unconditionally
The first paradox: work takes up a smaller place in people's lives, yet attachment to employers is growing. 87% say they like or appreciate their company, four points more than in 2025. Job satisfaction averages 7.6 out of 10, slightly above overall life satisfaction at 7.3. Apparently the office is doing better than life in general, which is either a compliment to employers or a worrying note about everything else.
The second paradox: money is tight, yet people say they are ready to leave a job that stops interesting them. 70% name inflation and purchasing power as their top concern, and 25% say they cannot stop thinking about it. At the same time, 33% now intend to stay only as long as their job remains interesting, up six points since 2025. In France that figure reached 40%, up ten points.
AI Brings More Enthusiasm Than Fear
The third paradox concerns technology. Employees expect AI to transform their professions deeply, yet it generates more enthusiasm than anxiety:
- 65% have a positive attitude toward AI at work (51% in France).
- 40% say they appreciate it.
- 40% are confident their job will not disappear because of AI.
- 42% believe AI will positively change the content of their work.
Pluxee CEO Aurélien Sonet says employees see AI as an opportunity rather than a threat. For employers, the message is double-edged: goodwill is real, but it is tied to keeping work interesting and keeping people informed about what is changing.