Feeling valued now matters as much as pay for keeping staff
3 November 2026 · 2 min read · HireHo
Based on a BW People interview with Leigh Dauncey of Howden, published on 3 November 2026. Summarised in our own words.
Share on WhatsAppIn an interview with BW People, Leigh Dauncey, Regional Head of Employee Benefits for the Middle East, Africa and India at insurance broker Howden, says rising healthcare costs, changing employee needs and AI are pushing companies to treat well-being as business strategy, not just an HR task.
Key points
- Pay, good managers and a caring workplace all matter, but feeling valued and respected is becoming more important for keeping staff.
- A lack of appreciation can push people to leave. Supportive workplaces can cut burnout, absence and attrition.
- Employers should use health data to target real needs, not run one-size-fits-all programmes.
- Using AI only to push output higher, without fixing workloads, can add stress.
- Wearables that track stress or burnout could help, but need clear privacy safeguards.
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What this means for you
- Employers: everyday recognition and manager support do more than policies on paper.
- Job seekers: ask in interviews how the team recognises good work and handles workload.
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SourcesBW People: Can a caring workplace become the strongest business advantage?HireHo explains these reports in its own words. Figures belong to the sources above.
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